Auction aids Russian artist whose fingers were ‘butchered’ in vicious robbery

Art for Alexandra helps raise over a hundred thousand dollars

Larger Text

Print

E-mail

12 Comments

Russian artist Alexandra Trotsenko

Photo by Irish Times

Tweet

A Dublin auction has raised almost a hundred thousand dollars for a Russian born artist who lost three fingers in an horrific knife attack at her apartment in the city.

Alexandra Trotsenko hasn’t been able to work since she was attacked and left for dead by thief James Kenny two years ago.

Currently serving a 16-year sentence for the brutal attack and robbery, Kenny was described as a ‘butcher’ by the judge in his subsequent court case.

The Russian, previously employed as an illustrator on children’s books and married to Irishman James Kelly, told the court how Kenny ‘savagely’ attacked her and left her for dead before robbing her ATM card and using it to withdraw cash from a nearly bank.

With no health insurance or medical card cover, Trotsenko was unable to fund the $15,000 operation needed to replace her three fingers with prosthetics.

--------------------

READ MORE:

More news stories from Ireland on IrishCentral

David Drumm: ‘There is a witch hunt ... I convince myself that this will pass’

Niall O'Dowd: Tragic suicide of head of Irish Democrats Abroad

--------------------

Her story touched the nation when she appeared on the Liveline radio show on national broadcaster RTE. Liveline host Joe Duffy was one of the organizers of Sunday’s ‘Art for Alexandra’ auction in Blackrock.

Artists Robert Ballagh, Jane O’Malley and Markey Robinson were amongst those who donated over 200 works to the auction with the highest bid $7,000 for a bronze sculpture by Paddy Campbell.

A painting by radio personality Duffy also sold for almost a thousand dollars.

“For almost over two years I was left without attention from the State. I was feeling bad and depressed but you changed my life. This has made a huge difference,” said Trotsenko afterwards.

“I hope to be able to draw again after treatment on my fingers. Hopefully I will draw again. I can’t wait for that.”

Another $30,000 raised by listeners to Duffy’s Liveline show will also be made available to Trotsenko for her medical bills.

“This isn’t going to change the world. It’s not going to heal her wounds, but it may give Alexandra more options. She has suffered catastrophic injuries,” said Duffy.

“The auction was a lovely warm embrace from the Irish people to Alexandra.”

--------------------

READ MORE:

More news stories from Ireland on IrishCentral

David Drumm: ‘There is a witch hunt ... I convince myself that this will pass’

Print

E-mail

Tweet