News, views and top stories in your inbox. Don't miss our must-read newsletter Sign up Thank you for subscribing We have more newsletters Show me See our privacy notice Invalid Email

The heartbroken mum of an eight-year-old boy paralysed in a shooting has demanded justice for her son.

Gillian Scully spoke out as brave Sean returned to primary school after a long battle with his injuries.

The Irish Sunday Mirror's exclusive pictures of Sean, who was shot in the spine on June 13 last year, show a schoolboy who couldn’t hide his delight as he set off to start second class at St Ultan’s Primary School in Ballyfermot, Dublin.

However, his mum Gillian said that behind the smile lies a young boy who is very upset over the fact he will never be able to walk again.

The mum-of-two said the harsh reality that Sean will never be able to play football with his friends has finally hit him.

Speaking from her home, Gillian said: “I know he is back at school and he has a smile on his face but at the end of the day he is still paralysed.

“That’s a lot to take for a young boy who was running around just last year.

“Time has gone on and he’s doing good medically but he still can’t walk and

probably never will.

“Unfortunately that’s the reality of it. Life for Sean will never be the same again.

“I never in a million years imagined that this was going to happen.”

She said it was devastating to see him the way he is.

Gillian added: “It breaks my heart. He has had to work so hard to even get to the point he is at now. He still thinks he is going to be able to walk.

“A friend of his asked him when his legs were going to work again and he told her maybe in three, five or 10 years.

“I had to tell him that they might not. I don’t want him to think that if he doesn’t get any better that he hasn’t worked hard enough.”

She explained doctors at the National Rehabilitation Hospital have said it’s highly unlikely he will walk again as there is no feeling in his legs.

Gillian added: “I want those who have done this to Sean brought to justice.”

Sean was playing with friends near his home in Croftwood Gardens,Ballyfermot, in June 2014 when a row broke out between a relative and two men who live in the area.

The men left but returned with a handgun. The intended victim ran when the attacker fired. The shots missed him but hit Sean.

One bullet went through the boy’s body above his collarbone and ruptured nerves in his neck, causing permanent damage to his spinal cord.

Gillian pointed out the family have now decided to move from the area and make a fresh start.

She said: “I decided a few months ago that we needed to move away. We are going to try and get out of here, not necessarily out of Ballyfermot as Sean’s school is brilliant, but just out of this area.

“It’s mostly for Sean as he absolutely hates it. It’s probably the memory of what happened.”

She explained there are lots of joyriders in the area and when her son hears them he screams for her to take him into the house.

Gillian said: “He might only be at the front door but he wants to be inside the house. He’s terrified.

“I think it’s because he can’t run and come inside by himself. He has to ask for someone to come and help him.”

She added: “There was a shooting across the road just a few weeks ago in broad daylight. Sean didn’t hear it but when we came out he saw all the Garda cars. It made him worse.

“Since it happened he has insisted on me sitting with him all the time, I can’t leave his side. The people who carry out these shootings have no fear and think nothing of taking a human life. Thankfully no kids playing close by were hurt.”

Gillian said there is a lot about the time Sean was shot that she can’t recall.

She added: “I was inside the house. I heard a bang. I thought it might have been a stolen car that had hit a pole or a gate.

“We knew that the kids were out so we jumped up and ran out. When I went out my older boy was sitting there asking me to help.

“I asked what happened and someone said Sean had been shot with a pellet gun. I believed that for two days. I thought it was the type of pellet gun that kids get when they are away on holiday.

“I have said to neighbours since then that I couldn’t recall there being much blood but they have said that there was loads. I obviously didn’t see it or I blocked it out.

“All I kept asking myself was how could they shoot a little boy. I know nobody meant to shoot him and it was an accident but I can’t understand why they never held their hands up and admitted to it.

“There were a few kids playing out when he was shot. There could have been a lot more of them injured.”

Gillian revealed the level of support she has had from everyone in the neighbourhood has been “unbelievable”.

She said: “My family and friends have been just incredible.

“The whole neighbourhood has been brilliant. Even on the way to school the other day people were saying, ‘Hi Sean’. I asked if he knew them and he said no. I had to tell him that it was probably from seeing him in the paper.”

Gillian also said Sean is terrified every time he hears a loud noise on the road outside the house following the incident.

She added: “If he hears raised voices or a loud noise he is simply terrified and insists on going into the house.

“He used to have nightmares when he was in hospital but doesn’t any more.” And Gillian said it has broken herself and husband Karl’s hearts having to watch him not being able to play outside with his friends.

She added: “The summer was so tough looking for stuff for him to do.

“He absolutely hates being restricted. He had to look at the kids running around and playing football on the green. Before the shooting he used to spend all of his time out playing football, morning, noon and night.”

Sean’s mum explained he is obsessed with football and is a big Manchester United fan.

She added: “He had started playing with the local team before the shooting.

“His dad had been bringing him to training from the age of two to watch.”

Sean started second class on Wednesday and his mum said he is delighted to be back with his friends. She added: “He has his Communion this year. He loves school. He got to wear his uniform for the first time in two years this week.

“He has adapted well to it again. His teachers and the staff at the school are just brilliant. Sean wanted to get back into a routine and couldn’t wait to see his friends. He has always been good at school. He is very intelligent.”

Gillian said the family are looking forward to a break from the difficulties of the past year and have booked a dream holiday in Florida next year.

She added: “We are hoping to get away on holiday next summer. I promised Sean we would go to Florida when he was a bit better. He hasn’t stopped talking about it since.”