American national savagely assaulted in Dublin says he wants to live in Mayo for good

AN American national who nearly died in an unprovoked assault in Dublin in 2023 says Mayo is now his home and has no intention of returning back to the States.

Stephen Termini, a native of Buffalo, New York, was back in Ireland last week for the sentencing of two teens for the brutal assault on him and following the completion of court proceedings headed to Westport last Saturday.

The 58-year-old told The Mayo News that he has no intention of returning back to the USA and believes that the assault on him strengthened his desire to live in Mayo, the home county of his great-grandmother Anne Donnelly.

“I want to stay here. I see a lot of abandoned places and I have a bit of money to get that ball rolling. I am here to stay if someone gets me a place to stay and a job. That is what I am here to do,” Stephen told The Mayo News on Monday.

His ancestor Anne Donnelly was a native of Newport and was a teenager when she emigrated to North America in the 1840s and settled in the city of Buffalo, located on the US/Canada border. She lived to the ripe age of 107 years.

In July, 2023, Stephen was knocked unconscious and left with a bleed to the brain when he was attacked by three youths in Dublin city centre. He was in a critical condition for a number of weeks and feels that the three youths 'killed' Stephen Termini.

Name change

“I changed my name and took my great-grandmother's name who was from Newport. Now my name is Stephen Wilson Donnelly. I have legally changed it and it is on my passport and drivers licence.

“It [name change] makes me feel normal ... this has been happening to me all my life. I don't know a lot about my family but I always knew something was going on there. My mother raised me in a lot of Irish traditions. When I was at Catholic school and was being confirmed I chose the name Patrick. I had to write the story of the shamrock and when I handed it in they [teachers] were like 'oh shit ... we got a hot one here'.

“That is the way I feel and I don't want to be anywhere else. This is my home and I know it won't be easy but I want to stay here and spend my days here.”

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Stephen is currently staying in accommodation beside the Cú Chullainn Bar on Altamount Street in Westport and he already feels at home in the west.

“I can't think about any other place but Co Mayo. The people are the people I want to be around and I want them around me. Whatever I can do to be part of their life. If they are decent, good people and honest like me that is where I want to be. I am not looking for illusions of grandeur here. I want a place to live with a bed, toilet and shower and that's it. I don't need much.

“The United States is not for me ... this is what I relate to and the people are a special group and I am glad the whole world doesn't know about this gem. This is a safe place for me. I'm sure I have distant relations around too to meet up with,” he said.

Health set-backs

Since the attack, Stephen has suffered a number of set-backs in his recovery including the discovery of a tumour in his jaw. He was due to get teeth which were damaged in the assault fixed when the dentist noticed the tumour in a routine x-ray.

“I said I don't feel anything in there but he said believe me it is in there,” he recalled.

Added to the tumour, Stephen was on his way to work in a galvanising factory in Buffalo when he suffered a bleed to his brain in April 2024 which resulted in his back going into a seizure.

“They put two metal titanium rods and screws to put me together,” he explained.

Two of the youths who were 14 at the time pleaded guilty to assault causing serious harm and violent disorder but a third who was 17 pleaded not guilty. Stephen was meant to give evidence in the trial but the teen pleaded guilty to a less serious charge of assault causing harm.

Stephen said he was happy with the outcome of the court and forgave the youths but feels out of pocket following his medical expenses and hopes to get some compensation from the Government.

“Obviously the kids and their parents have no funds and I normally wouldn't ask for anything if it wasn't so difficult for me now. I can still work, not like I used to, but I am on medication to help me get through the day to get to work and come home. That is all I need. I have worked all my life. I am a blue collar man and everywhere I worked I have never been fired and if when I say I am going to be there, I will be there. I will do what they tell me to do,” he said.