Stephen Termini had saved up for his dream trip to Ireland, but the 57-year-old from Buffalo, New York, was kicked and beaten by a group of youths on Dublin’s Store Street.
The attack happened just after he left his guesthouse accommodation on Talbot Street on Wednesday night.
He remains in intensive care at Beaumont Hospital.
Speaking from the United States, his son Mike Rizzuto told RTÉ News that his dad was looking forward to coming here.
He said his father, who is an artist and a musician, loves travelling and is a very spiritual person.
“My dad’s mother’s ashes were spread in Ireland in 2002 and he was unable to make it there at the time. His grandfather used to paint murals in Ireland. I’ve been raised with Irish heritage which is very important to my dad. Last time I spoke to him he was saving up every penny, doing odd jobs to get over to Ireland. He was talking about playing music in Ireland. That’s where he wanted to be so it really sucks what happened to him,” Mike Rizzuto said.
“He would give you the shirt off his back, he’s a very good man,” Mike added.
Mike says the family are desperate to come to Ireland to be at Stephen’s bedside.
“We just feel helpless at the moment. His sister lives about 10 hours away from me in a different state. My brother and I are trying to come up with a plan so we can all fly over. Even though we can’t do anything, we can try to be there with him at least,” Mike said.
Mike has set up a Go Fund Me page to raise money so the family can travel to Ireland.
“It’s a little out of our budget at the moment but hopefully we will be able to get to him. We have not seen him in a couple of years. We care about him and love him and he has all of our support. We want to be there for him, he needs us right now,” Mike said.
Mike Rizzuto said he has been in contact with the gardaí in relation to the assault.
“What happened to my dad should not happen to anybody. I’m just trying to keep on top of everything as best I can and go about it the right way,” Mike said.
Make the city safer
There has been widespread condemnation of the attack which happened just metres away from Store Street garda station.
Businesses in the area are calling for more resources to make the city safer.
Daniela Orlea owns DeLuxe Hair & Beauty which is located directly across from where Wednesday night’s assault took place.
She said she does not feel safe having a business on Store Street.
“We close at 8pm in the winter time, and I usually have to close up. I have to watch my back. We have no proper street lights. I’m really afraid coming into winter after what’s happened,” Daniela said.
Daniela said her clients are afraid to come into the city.
“Clients are afraid to come into town because of anti-social behaviour. The young kids, throwing eggs and trying to rob. I think there should be more gardaí on the streets,” Daniela added.
Aebhric MGibney, Public Affairs Director at Dublin Chamber of Commerce, said businesses want to see more gardaí on the streets.
“What Dublin Chamber members really want to see is more police presence, better equipment and resources for the gardaí. But it’s not just a policing problem, it’s about how safe the city feels which is about public lighting, cleaning the streets and making sure people feel safe.
“We really need Government to come together for all those different aspects to make sure Dublin city can be a safe place for people to work, live and do business,” Aebhric MGibney said.
