A 13-YEAR-OLD girl has been hailed as a “hero” after shielding her baby nephew from a gang of machete-wielding men.
The girl was left in a critical condition following the shocking attack on a house in Co Fermanagh.
According to police, a number of men armed with machetes broke into a property on Trasna Way in Lisnaskea last Saturday night, November 16, at around 9:15pm.
A 41-year-old woman, who has been named as Elizabeth Joyce, was stabbed in the attack along with the young girl.
Speaking to the BBC in the wake of the terrifying attack, Ms Joyce singled out the teen for bravely throwing herself over Elizabeth’s baby grandson to protect him from the gang.
Ms Joyce said: “The baby was unharmed because his auntie is a hero. She’s 13 and threw her whole self over that baby, and she saved his life. She is a hero.”
The young teen remains in a critical but stable condition.
No arrests have yet been made but the police are treating the incident as attempted murder.
Ms Joyce described the attack in terrifying detail to ITV: "They burst through the house, one attacker came to me attacking. I was screaming and kicking and fighting back.
“The other attacker went for the wee fella, but his auntie, who is in hospital in a very critical condition, she threw herself on top of the baby to save the baby's life."
The PSNI are now appealing for anyone with information to come forward.
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.
“We have several lines of enquiry which we are progressing at this time, but I would ask anyone with information or who noticed any suspicious activity in the area to contact detectives in Enniskillen and pass that information on.”
According to reports, the family involved belongs to the Travelling community.
There is some media speculation that the attack could be connected to a long-running dispute.
The PSNI investigation is ongoing.
