The mother of an Italian man who was left paraplegic after a horrific Dublin attack has expressed her gratitude to the people of Ireland for their support for their family.
Guido Nasi was only 17 when he was hit over the head with a bottle in Fairview Park in 1999 leaving him with completely life-changing injuries.
The unprovoked assault left him needing 24 hour while his attacker James Osbourne was jailed for 8-and-a-half years.
Guido, who has recently moved to a care centre in Turin as his mother battles pancreatic cancer, sat alongside her on Friday's Late Late Show where a letter was read thanking the Irish people for the outpour of support he received after the horror incident.
Simoneta told the audience she wanted to show their gratitude as she fears it will be her last time in Ireland.
She said: "I'm here in Dublin this weekend because I want to thank you and show you how I've thought of you during these years.
"I'm taking this opportunity as it may be the last time because of my own illness.
"I do not think about why this happened, I just think about how I can help Guido to accept his new condition.
"With all his dreams still alive in his head, as they were on the night of July 30 1999.
"It's not easy, it's difficult to plan a future when it's so completely different to what you had imagined."
She went on to thank volunteers and victim support units saying "there are no words" to describe their feelings.
She said: "The reason you are all so important is that you helped us to survive this tragedy, to accept life, and help Guido to believe in his remaining capacity.
"There are no words to show our gratitude to the people of Ireland for what you have done.
"Since the day of the attack this country has shown us great solidarity in helping us.
"We felt a great big hug from young and old.
"We will never forget the help we received from victim support, and from all the staff and volunteers.
"Thank you all for everything, it has been a pleasure knowing such a wonderful country."
