Mother of Corkman critically hurt in Sydney: ‘I need him to come home to me’
The mother of a Corkman who is an induced coma after he was knocked to the ground in Sydney has said she “needs him to get well and come home to me”.
Stephanie Cierans addressed the media accompanied by Jason’s father Declan and younger brother Jamie. They arrived in Sydney on Monday, where Jason remains critically ill in hospital.
“Last Friday night around 9pm, Irish time, I got a knock at the door that any parent dreads. Any parent whose son or daughter is living abroad has this fear, no matter what, when the door knocks late at night,” Mrs Cierans said.
“I was informed at that time that my son Jason was seriously assaulted and he’s critical in hospital,” she said. “Our whole world turned upside down.”
She thanked Jason’s friends and the staff at St Vincent’s Hospital who are caring for him.
“We’ve met all Jason’s friends and the stories that we’ve been hearing has made me laugh, cry, want to go and hug him, want to wake him up...I need him to get well and come home to me. "I want him back in my arms. I want to kiss and hug him," she said.
“He’s the type of guy that ... if anyone is in trouble, nothing is too big or too small, he’s my Jason, and he’s brilliant,” she said.
Jason, 29 and originally from Gurranabraher in Cork City, underwent emergency surgery after the attack at Bondi Junction in Sydney early last Saturday morning.
It is believed he was punched as he crossed the road and fell to the ground, hitting his head.
Doctors at St Vincent’s Hospital relieved pressure on his brain and placed him in a medically induced coma to stabilise his condition.
The Daily Telegraph reports he is expected to be slowly taken out of the coma tomorrow afternoon.
Jason moved to Sydney six years ago and loves it there, his mother said today, adding: “He calls Sydney home and Ireland a holiday.”
Friends of Jason’s, several of whom witnessed the attack, paid tribute to the popular construction worker who has built up a wide circle of friends among Sydney’s vibrant expat community in his six years in Australia.
Fellow Cork native and Sydney resident, Kez O’Callaghan, wrote: “This man is a gent and too stubborn to let this keep him down. Stay strong buddy — we will be with you every step of the way.”
Another fellow Corkman, Jay Healy, described Jason as “Jase the ace — a top, top man.” Another friend, Oliver Shields, wrote: “He’s a gentleman too —wouldn’t hurt a fly”
A 30-year-old Argentinian man, Adrian Gabriel Martinez, was charged with recklessly causing grievious bodily harm to Jason. The Daily Telegraph reports that Mr Martinez was this morning released on bail after new evidence emerged that the defence will argue suggests he was acting in self defence.
A second man, aged 27, was also arrested over the brawl and has been charged with affray. He was granted conditional bail last Saturday and is set to appear in court on September 24.
