The Galway student who was seriously injured when a traffic cone was hurled off a bridge in Edinburgh last December has celebrated Christmas - six months late.
Friends, family and neighbours of Kate Flannery decided to make up for the fact she was in the spinal injuries unit of a Glasgow hospital last Christmas Eve, uncertain if she would walk again.
So up went the Christmas tree and unseasonal decorations in her local, Wards Hotel in Salthill, last Saturday night with 100 well-wishers celebrating a belated Christmas as much as they were hailing Ms Flannery's recovery.
Ms Flannery (24), Beech Court, spent more than three months in hospital following the incident on December 19th. She was walking home after attending the graduation ceremony of a friend when a traffic cone struck her on her head.
It had been thrown 60 feet from George IV bridge.
Following an extensive media appeal, Andrew Smith (29), an Australian, turned himself in to police. He was later charged with culpable and reckless conduct and his trial is due to start on July 3rd.
Doctors have been astounded at the recovery of Ms Flannery, who had almost completed a two-year postgraduate degree in occupational therapy at Queen Margaret's University College when the incident occurred.
She has had to endure horrific nerve pain in her arms but this has eased somewhat. Since her return home in April, she spends her days walking and swimming to build up her strength. She hopes to return to Edinburgh to finish her course in September.