Posted by Exclusive: US tourist attacked on Talbot Street tells the Irish Mirror: ‘I’m lucky to still be alive’
Stephen Termini – who was beaten in an attack that sparked national outrage – told us how he is recovering well, and even returned to the Celt Bar on Talbot Street for a pint yesterday
- 20:25, 24 AUG 2023
The US tourist who was attacked in Dublin’s Talbot Street has given his first interview and exclusively told us: “I’m lucky to still be alive.”
The horrific attack on Stephen Termini (57) on the corner of Store Street and Talbot Street on July 19 made headlines around the world and has sparked national outrage and a major conversation about safety in Dublin city centre.
The incident saw Stephen, who is a native of Buffalo, New York fighting for his life in a coma in hospital – but now he’s out and recovering well – and even returned for a pint in the Celt Bar on Talbot Street yesterday.
In his first interview since the brutal attack Stephen told us how he has no memory of the attack – but he’s since seen video footage which saw teens punch him, kick him to the ground and repeatedly kick him in the head.
“You know it’s a pretty f*cked up thing to do to somebody, especially if they don’t deserve it and they don’t fight back. They could have killed me. I’m lucky to still be alive to be honest with you,” he said.
“I have no memory of it but when I saw the video I told the police I never said anything to these people, they just came at me. I saw the video and this kid just comes up to me and punches me in the eye.
“Another kid then ran across the street and kicked me in the side and tried to break my ribs. And then they kicked me in the head so many times that I became unconscious.
“They told me that somebody tried to wake me up for 20 minutes and they couldn’t,” Stephen said.
Stephen says he now feels lucky to be alive – and says it is only long after the incident that he came to realise how bad the attack he suffered was.
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