Girl, 13, critically injured in Fermanagh machete attack

A 13-year-old girl has been critically injured after she “threw herself on top of her baby nephew” to protect him during a machete attack in Co Fermanagh.

The children were at the home of the baby’s grandmother Elizabeth Joyce, at Trasna Way in Lisnaskea, when a number of men forced their way into the house just after 9pm on Saturday.

Armed with machetes, they attacked both Ms Joyce and the young girl, who suffered serious slash wounds and remains in hospital.

“They burst through the house - one attacker came to me, I was screaming and kicking and fighting back,” Ms Joyce told UTV.

“The other attacker went for this wee fella, but his auntie - who is in hospital in a critical condition - she threw herself on top of the baby to save the baby’s life.”

She added: “What kind of a man would go and do that to a 13-year-old girl? Leave her fighting for her life? She’s a hero.

“The ones who did it should be brought to justice and they should be done for attempted murder because they came to my home to kill.”

Police are treating the attack as attempted murder and are following several lines of enquiry.

PSNI Detective Sergeant Keith Monaghan said: “This must have been a terrifying ordeal for those involved and we are determined to find the men responsible.”

Anyone with information about what happened is asked to contact police on 101, or anonymously via Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.