Italian man left paralysed after unprovoked attack in Dublin has died
An Italian man, left paraplegic following a senseless bottle attack in Dublin in 1999, has tragically passed away due to cardiac arrest.Guido Nasi, who was just 17 at the time of the brutal assault, died on Wednesday morning, January 7, in his hometown of Turin. Guido, an innocent student learning English in Ireland at the time, had never travelled abroad before the incident.He was savagely attacked by a thug wielding a bottle in Dublin's Fairview Park and never fully recovered from his injuries. Despite being paralysed from the neck down and needing constant care, Guido held a profound love for Ireland and even harboured dreams of settling here permanently.In 2019, he returned to Ireland for a visit and was honoured with a special reception by then President Michael D. Higgins at Aras an Uachtarain, reports the Irish Mirror. During this visit, then President Higgins addressed a reception for the Irish Tourist Assistance Service (ITAS), the organisation that had assisted Mr Nasi, but the focus of the day was firmly on his enduring bond with the country."His presence here is an indication of the almost infinite power of forgiveness and of courage and of resilience and of hope and belief in the human spirit," the then President said, deviating from his script to speak directly to the Italian. However, since then, the health of the wheelchair-bound 43-year-old rapidly declined, and he grappled with severe depression alongside his physical challenges.In November last year, he was hospitalised following a cardiac arrest and had remained in hospital until his death due to a second cardiac arrest. Bernadette Kelly, a former victim support worker and long-time friend of the Nasi family, expressed her sorrow: "I'm so sorry to learn of Guido's passing. He had a terrible life after he was attacked in Dublin."His injuries were horrific, and he suffered badly with his mental health. He lost his mother a few years ago, and didn't have any family members left to support him, so he was being looked after in a nursing home in Turin."It's amazing, though, that he never lost his love for Ireland. He dreamed of moving over here to live, and that was what kept him going."And the Irish public were always very supportive to him, always sending him birthday cards and Christmas cards."In 2001, James Osbourne, then aged 31, from East Wall in Dublin, was sentenced to eight-and-a-half years in prison for the life-altering assault on Guido. He was released in 2008.Mr Nasi described his experience to Dublin Circuit Court as "a nightmare from which I try to wake myself". During the near-fatal attack on Annesley Bridge Road in Marino, Mr Nasi sustained a blood clot under his skull, causing near-fatal damage and permanent injuries after he confronted a boy about his missing wallet.Mr Nasi spent a fortnight in Beaumont Hospital before being airlifted in a coma back to his hometown of Turin in Italy. His condition was described as irreversible by a medical expert.During Osbourne's 2001 sentencing hearing at Dublin Circuit Court, Detective Sergeant William McKenna relayed the events to Mr Patrick Gageby, SC, prosecuting. He explained that Mr Nasi, who had come to Ireland for the summer to learn English, was enjoying an evening in Fairview Park with some Italian friends, playing ball and having some wine.A group of boys, aged around 14 to 15, joined them in their game.After the boys departed, Mr Nasi realised his wallet was missing. Det Sgt McKenna stated that Mr Nasi chased after the boys, caught up with one, and demanded his wallet back.Two other lads then tried to stop him from detaining the boy. Despite receiving several blows to the head and face, he managed to break free and chase the boys again.He caught up with them on Annesley Bridge Road, where he grabbed another boy and threatened to call the gardai. Det Sgt McKenna said that's when Osbourne appeared.Mr Nasi explained the situation to him, and Osbourne advised the boy, who denied stealing the wallet, to run off due to the potential arrival of the gardai. Mr Nasi released the boy and turned away from Osbourne, who then struck him over the head with a half-full bottle of Budweiser, causing him to fall and hit his head on the pavement.A number of individuals witnessed the assault, and Det Sgt McKenna noted that Mr Nasi would have been highly noticeable at the time due to his height of over six foot and his long dreadlocked hair, reminiscent of the late reggae artist Bob Marley. Det Sgt McKenna stated that Mr Nasi was taken to the Mater hospital a bit disoriented but able to walk.His condition took a severe turn for the worse around midnight, leading to his transfer to Beaumont for surgery. Osbourne was apprehended on August 6, 1999. He didn't deny the attack but initially declined to respond to any inquiries based on his solicitor's advice.He later provided a full statement and expressed regret about the assault. When news of Mr Nasi's medical predicament spread, people donated to a fund that raised over €90,000. The funds were used to cover his stay at an Austrian clinic specialising in brain injuries.Join our Dublin Live breaking news service on WhatsApp. Click this link to receive your daily dose of Dublin Live content. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don’t like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you’re curious, you can read our Privacy Notice .For all the latest news from Dublin and surrounding areas visit our homepage .
