Family of Bronx assault victim fly to New York from Ireland

Victim awaiting reconstructive surgery after vicious assault

HILDA HIGGINS,

IrishCentral.com Staff Writer

Published Saturday, July 21, 2012, 9:08 AM

Updated Saturday, July 21, 2012, 9:08 AM

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Alisha Jordan

The family of an Irish immigrant who was the victim of a vicious assault in the Bronx, have flown from Ireland to be by her bedside.

Last weekend Alisha Jordan, from Skryne, Co Meath, was the victim of an unprovoked attack after the GAA player and a friend were targeted by a brick wielding man in the early hours of Saturday morning.

As previously reported by IrishCentral the two young women were walking along Katonah Avenue, in the Woodlawn area of the Bronx when the attack occurred.

The 21-year-old victim had her skull, cheek bone and teeth broken in the attack.

“The front of her skull is crushed. They’re doing re-constructive surgery where they’re putting a plate in her skull to hold it together,” her neighbor Rosie O’Reilly, told CBS. “She has 15 stitches between her eyes. Her teeth are broken.”

Her friend who was just steps ahead of Jordan explained what she witnessed to CBS.

“I heard her scream and I turned around and she was covered in blood and this guy came up behind her and smashed her in the face with a slate from the old church,” the friend said.

“I actually said ‘What did you do to her?’ And went for him and I tried to hold him until someone came.”

Before the culprit escaped the victim’s friend managed to rip his t-shirt from his back, which police hope will help them identify him.

When news of the assault got to Ireland, the victim’s father, John Joe Jordan said the family got a terrible shock.

"If they had got her slightly higher it would have caused a lot more damage," he told the Irish Independent.

"There is no brain damage, which is the main thing. There are a few smashed bones in her face, her nose is broken in three places and the bone above her eye socket is badly severed."

Jordan’s parents arrived on Friday.

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Shanechef | Jul 24, 2012, 05:14 PM EDT

Phlutie Phan, your a twit plain and simple. you have now idea what your talking about, your lack of knowledge regarding anything whatsoever on subject is in plain view. "Ignorance is a bliss" does not come into play on this one. "A fools fool" does however Thank you and have a nice day

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Curitiba | Jul 23, 2012, 10:06 AM EDT

I think in most large cities, the suburbs are much more dangerous places to be at night than the city centre. Coming home from a night out in Central London, I had no worries about my safety in the centre of town, which is crowded with tourists and Londoners on a night out. Coming home, I had to walk a long way as the bus does not go as far as where I live and there are always gangs of men roaming the streets, looking for trouble after the nightclubs close. That's when I am most fearful. But during the day, these suburbs are perfectly safe. These ladies should have ordered a cab home.

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SingleDonald | Jul 23, 2012, 03:16 AM EDT

CORRECTION: Alisha's friend is unnamed. I gave credit to Rosie, Alisha's neighbor, by mistake. It was the friend who I was praising, for her bravery.

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SingleDonald | Jul 22, 2012, 05:55 PM EDT

My heart goes out to Alisha, and I pray for her speedy recovery. This monster's attack is as inexplicable as the rampage of James Holmes, in Colorado. Let's hope he is apprehended soon. Rosie should be commended, for her bravery.

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kilgara | Jul 21, 2012, 10:41 PM EDT

Why in all the reports about this on Irish Central not once is any description of this assailant given? When a similar assault in Woodlawn occurred a couple of years ago the assailant was fully described and labeled Irish-American.Could it be that the oh so politically correct cowards at this web site demurred because this time the bum is black?Much more than very likely.

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jimmybb | Jul 21, 2012, 12:05 PM EDT

phlutie phan u r an ass u know nothing about woodlawn yonkers neighbourhood one of the safest in the city this is why we r in real shock havnt locked my door in yrs u judgemental fool

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PhlutiePhan | Jul 21, 2012, 11:31 AM EDT

She is very aggressive in sport, so it looks. In American society, this gives women a false sense of security. I have been to the Bronx on a number of occasions, taking the subway, and going to the Bronx Zoo. On one occasion, I went to Fordham and when I left, I passed Roosevelt High School across the street, and in broad daylight, there was a rubbish can burning on the school steps. The area is dangerous and one needs to be constantly alert. The woman that she was with was exceptionally aggressive. He probably thought the obvious and it provoked hostility. Women who tramp through a macho area that men find hostile are only asking for trouble. When in the military, men are warned during visits to rough areas to always be on the alert and to avoid trouble spots especially if they are lonely. If they were near a church in the Bronx which was falling apart, I would guess that they were in an area without police protection and shouldn't have been there.

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