A teenager is recovering in hospital from injuries caused by a fireworks blast at his Co Antrim home.
Ms Linda Peden said yesterday her 16-year-old son Drew had tried to kill himself in the garage at Garron Heights in Carrickfergus because he was unable to come to terms with devastating injuries caused to his father in a paramilitary "punishment" attack.
Mr Andrew Peden was beaten and shot in both legs four years ago and suffered a double amputation.
Ms Peden said yesterday her son told her he wanted to die following the incident involving his father. "He couldn't cope. He's seen his daddy crawling about on the floor and he said 'Mummy I just want to die'."
She believes her son, who she believes is immature, wanted to commit suicide.
Drew's father said: "These people forget it's not only me they hurt. It's my whole family."
Insp Jim Chapman, of the PSNI, said a forensic examination was being carried out at the Peden home to establish exactly what happened.
"The investigation is very open at present. We'll just take it a step at a time. The forensic examination will give us a better picture of what happened inside the garage."
Ms Peden said she heard a loud explosion and that her son came into the house with severe injuries to his hand.
She said paramedics treated him on the spot for an hour, saving his life.
The teenager was transferred to the Ulster Hospital, Dundonald, on the outskirts of Belfast. The hospital specialises in bomb injuries and has a reputation for reconstruction and cosmetic surgery.
A senior loyalist, Mr John White, has worked closely with the Peden family in a bid to help them through their ordeal following the attack on Mr Peden.
The Ulster Political Research Group spokesman said yesterday: "It's tragic that we have a young man who was so badly traumatised by what happened to his father and now this has happened to him."