Irishman shot in back during row over where he parked bike Irish Independent
AN IRISHMAN is fighting for his life in a hospital in Honduras after he was shot in broad daylight following a bizarre dispute over where he parked his bicycle.
Joe O'Donnell (41) sustained horrific spinal injuries in the attack in the Central American republic on August 19. The attack is understood to have arisen out of a dispute with a local person.
Mr O'Donnell was shot in the back with a revolver, rupturing his spinal cord. He has undergone two operations so far to save his life.
His distraught family has appealed for help to return him to Australia for treatment.
Mr O'Donnell -- who holds Australian and Irish citizenship -- was transferred from Roatan Island where the shooting occurred to Cemasa hospital in San Pedro on the mainland where he had emergency surgery to stabilise his condition.
His family has been told that his medical bills could top thousands of dollars, and that his insurance policy is not adequate to cover them.
The victim's aunt, Kitty Nelan from Derrylee, Tralee, Co Kerry, said she first heard of her nephew's injuries when his Japanese-born mother Yuri rang her from Australia in the middle of the night in a distressed state.
