Doctors forced to remove part of teenager’s skull following horrific hit-and-run

The mother of a boy left fighting for his life after he was hit by a drunk-driver has released shocking photographs to show ‘what he has taken from Kiernan’. Kiernan Roberts, 16, was left lying in the road with a broken neck and head injuries after being hit by Owen Finn. The 64-year-old, who had been drinking wine, spirits and cocktails, fled the scene. The teenager, who wanted to grow up and be a political journalist – becoming the ‘next Jeremy Paxman’ – was left disfigured after undergoing surgery to remove part of his skull. His mother Marie, 53, has now spoken out after Finn was sentenced to three years in prison, to show him ‘what he has taken’ from her son.

Mrs Roberts said: ‘As a family we discussed releasing the images of Kiernan after the crash, and at first decided not to because once they are released you can’t get them back.
‘He has also suffered massive distress due to his head disfigurement and we did not want to add to that.
‘But we want Finn to see what he has taken from Kiernan. We want him to see for himself what Kiernan has lost.
‘We partly want Finn to see what he has done and not simply think he can dismiss it as a simple ‘bad thing’, as described by his defending barrister in court.
‘We spoke to Kiernan who has chosen the images along with us.’

Kiernan’s neck shattered as he landed on Finn’s car windscreen after being catapulted into the air. He also suffered a massive brain injury. Despite his remarkable progress, his parents have been told it is likely he will never fully recover and be the person he was. Kiernan, from Elloughton, East Yorkshire, was given just a 20 to 40% chance of survival after the horrific crash.
He suffered psychological distress because of his disfigurement and also had severe headaches, as well as the complete loss of use on his right-side upper limb and significantly reduced mobility in his right lower limb. In the past eight weeks, Kiernan has been learning to stand and walk again with machines for aid, and is learning to talk and regain his thinking and cognitive skills.
Mrs Roberts said: ‘He still has a long way to go and he may never quite be the same but we do have hope.’