The mother of a two-year-old boy with cerebral palsy has hit out at joyriders who stole and burned out their family car.
Emma Logue’s Vauxhall Astra was stolen from outside her Carnhill home in the early hours of this morning before being abandoned and burned out on a green area close to Knockalla Park in the nearby Galliagh area.
It was the second car to be stolen in the Carnhill area in the three days.
Emma said she depended heavily on the car to take her young son, who has cerebral palsy, to medical appointments.
The 27-year=old had been due to travel to Belfast with him this morning for his treatment.
“I’m just so angry about this,” she said.
“I actually heard the car being stolen, it was about 1.30am when I heard a car being rallied out of the street, but I can’t see where my car is parked because of the shed.
“It was only when my partner was going out to the gym in the morning that we discovered the car was gone.”
Emma said her child’s pram was also in the vehicle.
“I depend heavily on the car to take my child to his occupational therapist, his physio and other medical appointments, we have quite a few to go to every week.
“The people who stole the car would have seen the child’s seat in the car, and there was a pram in there too, but sure they don’t care, do they?”
“I don’t know what we’re going to do without it.”
Brian Tierney, SDLP councillor for the area, condemned those responsible and appealed to people to be vigilant for car thieves..
He added: “The victim of this crime was completely dependent on this car as a means of transport as her son is living with cerebral palsy.
“Losing it will seriously hamper her ability to allow her son to live comfortably and independently.
“They have lost the car along with everything inside including a pram and other equipment.”
Cllr Tierney concluded: “This latest theft comes shortly after a similar incident on Saturday night and must act as a warning for everyone in the area to be vigilant against the dangers of car thieves.