Dad rebuilding life after shock attack
ARUNCORN dad who was stabbed through the eye with a snooker cue in a brutal robbery that left him blind on that side and partially paralysed has spoken about the challenges he still faces and his hope of one day building enough strength to go for a bike ride with his young daughter.
Stephen Currie, 42, underwent a gruelling stay in hospital lasting five months and two weeks after the life-changing episode on the footbridge between Hallwood Park and Beechwood on January 23, 2017, in which he and his friend were assaulted and his motorbike was stolen.
One of the two hooded thugs who attacked them hit Stephen with such force that the snooker cue broke leaving a stump used to pierce his eye socket, causing brain damage.
Last month, 30-year-old Sean Meadows, of no fixed abode, was found not guilty of all charges in connection with the incident – a verdict that left Stephen, who had given evidence, ‘gutted’ and in tears.
Although cleared of any involvement in that crime, Meadows was sent down for nine years and a year on extended licence the day after his acquittal for a separate charge of possessing a shotgun with intent to causes fear of violence in connection with a terrifying car chase and driveby shooting in Runcorn on June 19, 2018, that left a car pocked with gunshot and for which Meadows admitted being present and hiding the weapon at Rock Park but denied being the triggerman. That incident had no connection to the incident on the footbridge.
Three years on from his ordeal on the footbridge and Stephen is still living with the effects.
Slow on his feet and frail, a permanently closed eyelid above his right cheek – itself affected from the aftereffects of paralysis, will be a legacy of that awful night for the rest of his life, save for some unexpected oncein-a-century medical breakthrough.
He still walks with a stick when out, but has made progress.
His speech, although still slowed, is coherent and steady.
The former Norton Priory pupil and bike mechanic said he feels ‘all right’ but is still ‘struggling’ to ‘get used to it’.
Physio is due to start again soon, having been delayed by the trial when his physio said his mood would be too ‘low’ to engage properly.
But he is keen to press on and take to two wheels again – particularly for his daughter Amelia, 11, – first by building some strength on an exercise bike, as well as drive again and pass the mandatory retest.
Physios are also working on regenerating his balance, which is now ‘not 100%’ but ‘a lot better than it was’.
Asked what his big hope for the future is now, a smile flashed on his face and he said: “I just bought my daughter a bike, a mountain bike and she goes ‘Daddy, when you can ride a bike we can go on bike rides!’”
But that dream is a world away from the his harrowing experience and the long road to recovery.
Part of the legacy of the attack is that he no longer feels completely secure in his own home – a groundfloor flat in Castlefields that was recently targeted in an attempted burglary two months ago with scrapes marking where someone has tried to open the door.
Stephen said the main door to the whole block is also weak and can be yanked open by force without a key.
To add to his vigilance, he said the block’s external gas supply was recently tampered with when someone inserted a lit firework, which he feared could have resulted in an explosion.
As such he wants to move but is content to remain in Runcorn among family and friends instead of seeking sanctuary under witness protection.
Having had his capacity to work severely hampered by paralysis, he has also fallen into rent arrears of £300 but is paying the small debt off and is hopeful that once it is cleared in around 10 months’ time, his landlord Onward Homes – formerly Liverpool Housing Trust – will find a suitable move for him somewhere and his two beloved dogs, and somewhere with a second bedroom for when he looks after his daughter at weekends, and maybe even a garden or a bungalow.
He added that he was disappointed to have a claim for criminal injury compensation denied because he had breached a community order for a minor cannabis offence related to growing for personal use ‘years ago’.
Had the bid been a success, he said the guidelines for his set of injuries including loss of an eye, and brain damage causing speech and mobility issues, could have exceeded £200,000, which could have been a small degree of consolation for enduring the nightmarish attack and after-effects.
His mother has appealed the refusal three times.
But instead of reducing the amount he is eligible for in light of the court order and breach, the system offers no middle ground despite the horrendous physical damage he has suffered.
He was also frank about his regret in heading to the footbridge that night three years ago to buy a ‘20-bag’ – £20 of cannabis, which according to online forums is about two grams – a tiny recreational amount.
He said: “I always think about it, why didn’t I just not go? You know what I mean? I’d have two eyes.
Discussing the lasting effects he said: “I’m still struggling like in getting in used to it now.”
On his anticipated return to physio he said: “I haven’t been back since court and then they said ‘you feel really low, everything’s brought back up again’.
“They said ‘leave it a few weeks then start again’.
“I was in hospital in total for five months and two weeks and in Fazakerley for I think 5½ weeks and St Helens rehab centre for the rest of the time.”
Looking to the future he said one near-future aim is to ‘get a move’.
He said: “My gas broke where you have the gas meter and someone had put a firework in there and they lit it.
“It’s a good job I’d gone out.
“The digital display, they smashed that.
“I don’t know if it leaked gas, it could have blown the block up.
“I’m on the ground floor as well.
“I don’t feel secure.”
His recovery is ongoing, he said: “It’s just getting more mobile.
“I want to ride a pedal bike again.
“I’m starting to get my balance again.
“I’m on the exercise bike build up my strength – I want to ride a pedal bike again.”
Onward Homes told the Weekly News it has not received a move request but Mr Currie is free to make one.
Victims of crime can contact the Victim Support charity for free on 0808 168 9111.