‘DISGUSTO’ PER LA RICHIESTA DI IDONEITA’ AL LAVORO DI UNA VITTIMA DI ATTACCO SETTARIO

Posted on 27 Ago 2013 by S.P. Lascia un commento

Assault victim asked if he can work (UTV)

The father of a Londonderry man who was attacked by a sectarian mob and left in a vegetative state has described the Social Security Agency as “insensitive” after it wrote to ask his family if he is fit for work.

Catholic civil servant Paul McCauley suffered severe brain injuries when he was set upon by a loyalist gang while attending a barbeque in the Waterside in July 2006.

Seven years on he remains in a persistent vegetative state, unable to move or communicate, and needing 24-hour nursing care.

Despite his dreadful condition his father has received letters from the Social Security Agency asking if Paul is able to work.

The family say they have filled in the form – repeatedly stating Paul’s condition.

“We had a form with more than 30 questions and each required the same answer, you know, Paul’s in a vegetative state,” Jim McCauley told UTV.

“It was quite distressing to have to write that so many times.”

They even sent the Social Security Agency neurological and GP reports. Then they received another letter, again asking if Paul was fit to work.

Jim McCauley added: “It highlighted the absence of Paul to have to sit down and write so often on a form that Paul was in such a poor state.”

So far only one man has been jailed for the attack.

Despite repeated appeals for information and a seven-year police investigation, the other members of the gang have never been brought to justice.

Despite being the innocent victim of a sectarian mob attack, Paul McCauley’s 24-hour nursing care has to be paid for out of his own Civil Service pension.

Paul’s family said they are continuing to pay the price for what happened.

Jim McCauley said: “It was a murder bid and Paul was left for dead and had to resuscitated on three occasions and sadly the majority of those involved are still walking the streets. Paul continues to pay the price financially, but worst of all physically and mentally in the condition he’s in.”