Mum says Ruby (7) is having ‘nightmares every night’ since the horror incident in Tallaght
Ciara Grainger (32) says her daughter Ruby had left their home in Fortunestown, Tallaght, to get an ice-cream on Saturday, October 5.
As she walked across the green in their housing estate, something exploded from an open fire on the grass and flew into her right eye, which began pumping blood.
“She was just walking across the field after going to the ice-cream van,” Ms Grainger said.
“Next thing I know, she’s running back to the house screaming. I couldn’t believe it. There was battery acid in her eye,” Ms Grainger said.
“Whether it was a vape or not, I’m still not sure, but something exploded in the fire. It shot right into her face, and she’s been in agony ever since.
“She just collapsed crying, her eye was already swollen, and I knew something was terribly wrong. We rushed her to the hospital straight away,” she added.
Ruby was brought to the Royal Victoria Eye and Ear Hospital for emergency surgery, but unfortunately doctors were unable to save her right eye.
“I don’t even think it’s hit me properly yet. I’m still in shock… It’s just horrible,” Ms Grainger said.
After the accident, a family member checked the site of the fire and found the remnants of several burnt-out vapes.
Speaking about the situation near her home, where fires are lit on a daily basis, Ms Grainger said it’s like a “war zone”.
“There are fires out here nearly every day. The estate is like a war zone sometimes, with electricity boxes and other things being set alight,” she said.
“I’ve reported it to the gardaí and the council, but nothing’s been done. We’re living in fear, and it’s like no one cares.”
She said that, if Ruby has healed well, she can have an operation for a prosthetic eye in six weeks’ time. However, Ruby has been having “nightmares every night” since the incident.
“She remembers the same cry I had when it happened, and when she was running to the house after it happened to her,” Ms Grainger said.
“The blood was pumping down her face, and I’ll never forget it.”
Ms Grainger said she has attempted to report the incident to gardaí and has also filed an official complaint with South Dublin County Council.
She said her daughter has already been having a troubling time with bullying from other children, but says that Ruby is such a “bright and positive child”.
She is going to experience “very big changes” with more than likely having to go to a vision impaired school due to losing sight in her right eye, along with learning to balance again.
A GoFundMe has been set up to help cover Ruby’s medical costs.
South Dublin County Council and An Garda Síochána have been contacted for comment.
