FAMILY PLEA AS THIEVES STEAL MIA’S WHEELCHAIR
Mum says getting lifeline back would be best birthday present for two- year- old
A MUM whose daughter was left without her wheelchair at Christmas has urged the thieves to return it in time for her birthday.
Sarah Farrell and her family say their time together over the holidays was “ruined” after the two- year- old’s custommade chair was taken from beside their car in Knockainey, Co Limerick.
Now, with Mia set to turn three next week, Sarah has said getting her lifeline back would be the best present ever.
In a direct appeal to those who carried out the theft on December
14, she added: “Just leave the wheelchair somewhere, i f you still have it. Contact the gardai, use a private number.
“You don’t have to say who you are or where you are f rom. Just l eave it somewhere so we can get it back. It’s all we want.
“I just don’t understand the theft. It makes us so cross. Why would somebody take a child’s wheelchair?
“That’s Mia’s legs. That’s how she gets around as she’s totally paralysed.
“What gets into people’s heads that they’d want to do this?”
The wheelchair is small, with tape and f lowers on the back handle, and the rest is plain black. Sarah said: “They don’t realise what this is doing to her. She is heartbroken. She is doing an army crawl across the f loor to get around.
“I know she is only a child, but she was so used to having a wheelchair and getting around. She can’t express her thoughts as she doesn’t have great language skills. But you’d know by her she is heartbroken.”
Sarah has thanked people for their generosity since the incident.
She added: “People have been really fantastic. They’ve dropped in vouchers for Dunnes. One man dropped a big bag of toys for Mia into the Garda station at Bruff.”
Sarah thinks she knows who the thieves are but she does not believe there i s e nough e v i d e nce t o prosecute anyone.
She added: “She has not eaten a bite since the chair went. It’s horrendous to be quite honest, and you know Christmas i s bad enough trying to get the right gifts for everyone.”
The theft occurred around 5.50pm on December 14. As the car was open, Sarah and husband Martin Farrell are not covered by insurance, she said.
If you have any information call gardai on 061 382940.
Leave it somewhere where we can get it back
SARAH FARRELL CO LIMERICK YESTERDAY