David Kelly who was seriously injured in a hit and run near his home in Croom, in the early hours of Monday.

A devastated family of a young man seriously injured in a suspected hit-and-run have appealed to the driver of the vehicle involved to come forward.

David Kelly, (21), received over 100 stitches to the top of his head, and sustained two fractured neck vertebrae, a broken wrist and broken elbow, his uncle Conn Kelly, (40), said.

His family fear he may have suffered brain damage, but are praying he will make a full recovery.

The young garden centre worker and part-time barman was found "lying in a pool of blood in the middle of the road" about a mile from his home, at Carrigeen, situated near Croom, Co Limerick, around 2.30am Monday.

Conn Kelly said: "He has a bad laceration to the head and a deep wound in the back of the neck; a fractured elbow; a fractured wrist; and two fractured vertebrae in his neck."

"He's after receiving over a hundred stitches to the top of his head," he added.

Compounding the family's nightmare, David Kelly was found by an aunt, Joanne Kelly, who was travelling home from a night out with friends. She had been accompanied by two friends, one of whom is a trained nurse and who gave Mr Kelly life-saving roadside medical attention.

"It was frightening to see. It was a horrific scene," another uncle, Brian Kelly, said.

David Kelly was seriously injured while walking home alone after a night out with friends to celebrate having recently passed his driving test.

Conn Kelly added: "His head is our big worry. He is sedated now of course, but he's badly injured. He was in a lot of pain."

"He lost a substantial amount of blood. We're hoping he'll make a full recovery, but we don't know."

"We're hoping there is no brain damage," he added.

"It was a shock seeing him in such a state, on a wet country road...to be thrown down like that."

"Whoever did this, just left him there. You wouldn't do it to a dog. Their conscience will have to get at them."

"I'd appeal to their conscience, and come out and man up."

Fighting back tears he added: "They should have made a 999 call."

He said: "Someone knows something and someone knows who did it. There (has to be) some (vehicle) damaged somewhere."

He also appealed for mechanics working in garages or repair shops, who may have information about the vehicle involved, to "make an anonymous call to the gardai if needs be."

Conn Kelly said the sight of his nephew lying seriously injured on the road will never leave him.

"He was found in the middle of the road, just thrown down injured."

Gardai at Newcastle West have appealed for anyone with information to come forward and help their investigation.

Mr Kelly's "shocked" parents, along with his beloved 70-year old grandmother Chrissie, were maintaining a vigil at his hospital bedside.

Croom parish priest Fr Willie Fitzmaurice said: "We hope he will make a full recovery. It is a difficult time for his family."

Fr Fitzmaurice said the "community will offer their support", adding, "our wish is that he makes a full recovery."

Online Editors