A six-year-old Meath boy with special needs woke up on Bank Holiday Saturday without his wheelchair after heartless thugs stole that and other valuable equipment in an overnight burglary in Ashbourne.
Kyle Fitzgerald who has cerebral palsy is now without his wheelchair, specially adapted car seat and his Kaye Walking/Standing frame after his house was burgled.
Thugs didn't take anything from inside the property but instead hunted for car keys and stole the family vehicle containing the valuable items just before 3am on Saturday morning.
His father Rory and mum Janine were left heartbroken as they had to tell Kyle what had happened and shared the news on their Facebook page 'Kyle's Wish to Walk'.
Footage obtained by Dublin Live appears to show the alleged thieves loitering around the family house and even shows a close-up of one of the thieves who spots that they are on camera and covers his face.
Speaking to Dublin Live, Rory said that because of the theft, Kyle can not attend his activities.
"The thieves got into the house and had a walk around downstairs which has all his equipment.
"They passed a laptop, an expensive TV, lots of valuable items and just grabbed the car keys.
"It would be obvious to them that there was a special needs kid in the house because lots of Kyle's other equipment is downstairs and even more so after the theft because there is a wheelchair in the boot.
"There's even a sign on the back of the car that says 'disabled child on board' so before they even stepped foot inside they would have realised who it belonged to.
"They won’t care about that of course but I’m hoping they realise the importance of that chair."
"Gardai have been up to the house twice since it happened and they have been a great help."
Rory said that getting the car back is not of top importance and that the main thing is retrieving Kyle's equipment.
"The insurance will cover the car immediately but it will take weeks for him to get a wheelchair. We just want his things back.
"If they have any sort of heart or dignity, they will leave the wheelchair and equipment somewhere intact."
In May, Kyle travelled to the USA to have pioneering surgery to allow him to walk again.
"He got Selective Dorsal Rhizotomy surgery, which is available at a specialist centre in the US at St Louis Children’s Hospital, Missouri.
"The surgery went great and could see him live an independent life. But, there is extensive physiotherapy after this surgery and he will be relying on that wheelchair to help him in his rehabilitation.
"The wheelchair, adapted car seat and his Kaye Walking/Standing frame are all specifically designed for his hips and posture. We just want it back."
There is hopeful news for Kyle and his parents. The thief spotted close-up in the footage who is alleged to have broken into the house was not wearing gloves and Gardai are testing the door handle for fingerprints.
The car that is currently in the possession of the heartless thugs is a White Ford Kuga with the registration number 182 MH 958 and is equipped with silver alloys with black tinted windows.
Gardaí in Ashbourne are appealing for information regarding the theft and anyone with information can contact Ashbourne Gardaí 01-8010600.
UPDATE: Thankfully, Gardai have confirmed that they found the Ford Kuga.
They said: "We are delighted to report that the child's wheelchair and specially adapted car seat are in the car and undamaged. Thank you to everyone who shared the appeal. Garda investigations are continuing."
