The other victim's of gun crime: Mags Purtill tells the story of the struggles she now faces after her partner Robert Delaney was shot in the face.

Published Date: 07 April 2009

THE discovery of two hand-guns in a green area in Tymon Park on Thursday highlights the growing concern that nobody is safe from gun crime, and one mother's story of life after the shooting of her partner at their home in Russell Square emphasises the devastating damage that these weapons can have on innocent families.

A father of two, Robert Delaney (27) was shot in the face as he looked out of his apartment window in October 2008 and now this 'outgoing and down-to-earth' dad is in a vegetative state in Tallaght Hospital, a place where partner Mags Purtill goes every morning.
"Bob's (Robert's] condition hasn't changed since the accident, he's basically gone back to being a baby.
"He can breathe on his own but hasn't woken up yet and is fed through a peg in his stomach.
"I go every morning and wash and shave him, it does get a bit much because I can't get a kiss back from him, I can't feel him hold my hand.
"The doctors believe at the moment that he's not going to wake up and that he'll be in a vegetative state for the rest of his life.
"I just hope that God will be good, I hope and pray that whatever happens is the best for him."
In an attempt to raise awareness around Robert's attack and to appeal to the public for information this brave mother made a courageous appearance on Crime-Line last week with Robert's father Terry; an experience which both Terry and Mags described as 'very tough'.
Mags added: "I would love for whoever did this to come and live a day in my life and my kids' lives and see what we're going through because they wouldn't last an hour.
"Bob would do anything for anybody and what I loved about him was the way he always made me laugh.
"He was so down to earth and was a great father, he loved his kids."
Thanking the staff of Tallaght Hospital, who have trained Mags so that she can care for her partner of 11 years, Robert's father also thanked the community who have been 'very supportive' and to Sinn Féin who distributed leaflets raising awareness of the shooting and condemning those responsible.
Both Mags and Terry are asking anybody with information to come forward and Tallaght Garda Station has told the Echo that Robert was not known to them in the past and had no links to criminal activity.
The guns found in Tymon Park last week were discovered when a fire-unit attempted to put out a pile of rubbish which had been set alight.
According to Mick Duff, community worker and local election candidate (Labour): "This public park is accessed by kids and it is frightening that those responsible have no regard for the safety of the local community.
"Having these weapons of destruction among us is intimidating for the community."
Anybody with information on either the discovery in Tymon or Robert Delaney's shooting can contact Tallaght Garda Station on 666000 or the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111