Man in a wheelchair mugged

Chris Osuh

September 28, 2007

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A DISABLED ex-serviceman has told how he was bundled out of his wheelchair in a sickening street robbery.

Dennis Meehan, 55, was on his way to a kebab shop in Longsight when two attackers struck.

The former gunner, who suffers from osteo-arthritis and spondylitis, lay helpless on the ground for 45 minutes.

The ordeal began as he entered an underpass on Parry Road. A youth approached from the front and as Dennis greeted him an accomplice emerged from the darkness and pushed over his wheelchair.

They threatened to stab him before rifling his pockets as he lay helpless on the ground. They fled with £5, a treasured medallion, a mobile phone and a watch.

Numb

Dennis, who served in Northern Ireland, said his body went completely numb as he lay in the cold.

He was treated in hospital for cuts and severe bruising.

The grandfather-of-eight, who worked as a DJ at legendary Manchester nightclub the Twisted Wheel after leaving the army, said: "I have lived in Longsight for 25 years and nothing like this has happened before.

"It's left me too frightened to go out and my injuries hurt so much I've had to double my dose of painkillers. It was a terrifying, frustrating experience because I could do nothing to fend them off.

"I would ask anybody who knows them to tell police."

Insp Peter Forster said: "Whoever did this showed Dennis no respect whatsoever. Quite simply they are scum."

The attackers were black in their late teens. One wore a distinctive combat style jacket.

Anyone with information, call police on 016 1856 4401.

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Showing comments 1 to 21 and replies | View All

Mrs. T, Other side of the canal (28/09/2007 at 08:40)

What a pair of scum bags. I think there will be a few people on here who will be wanting to 'speak' to them. Will a description of Mr Meehans medallion be released so we can keep an eye out for it?

The Catcher, In The Rye (28/09/2007 at 09:04)

Mrs T: there are actually people who argue on here that society is no worse now than it used to be. Here's the evidence that there's more crime and it's more mindless and vicious.

dessie, manchester (28/09/2007 at 09:47)

less coppers on the beat, soft punishments, more illegal immigrants and the jobless on an easy ride, this is what labour has done for this wonderful country!!
bye bye labour at the next election!! good riddance

GARFIELD (28/09/2007 at 09:59)

very true about hopefully labour going. This is a awful crime and no doubt the perpertrater will just get a slap on the wrist. very very unfair these days. If it was a child who did this crime they should be treated like a adult in court. No secret identity and sent to prison

The Catcher, In The Rye (28/09/2007 at 10:30)

Garfield: I like the cut of your jib. Pity there aren't more people like us - the world would be a better, safer place. I hope you enjoy your time in Newton Heath and I look forward to welcoming you further up Oldham Road when you make a killing on the house.

Mrs. T, Other side of the canal (28/09/2007 at 10:51)

Catcher: Very true.

grav42, Manchester (28/09/2007 at 11:05)

Absolutely shocking story. Makes me feel sick to think that we have these vile, worthless, pathetic "human beings" walking the streets doing whatever they want.

I have read comments on here about how things are no worse than they were 50 years ago, I suppose we'll never be able to tell. Things certainly feel worse than when I was a kid in the 70s, but maybe thats just tabloid sensationalism, and with consecutive governments fudging crime figures we can't even have a direct quantitative comparison.

One thing I can't remember is thugs tipping over people in wheelchairs, robbing a couple a quid, and buying smack. Did that happen in the 50s, 60s or 70s?

Is there seriously any way to stop this decline?

David,North M/C (28/09/2007 at 11:34)

If there is an election and we say goobye to this Labour Goverment will it really make a difference to this lawless evil society.

Mrs. T, Other side of the canal (28/09/2007 at 12:17)

David, probably not as the rot has already set in with most of these wasters. The deterrents aren't exactly doing what they say on the tin.

jacko101 (28/09/2007 at 12:23)

OK, so we have all had enough of these crimes and the way that Britain seems to be falling deeper in to sickening thuggery.

We really need to let our MP's know how many people like us there are, because at the moment it seems that the only people who complain are the soft social types who have got us in this mess in the first place.

So, what next then? How do we get this message to our government that we are fed up with these crimes and the laughable punishments?

If we are all as annoyed as we sound on here, we must do something about it. We are the only ones who can make a difference.

Who's in?

sledge (28/09/2007 at 12:36)

Longsiight and young black teenagers probably means its one of the known gangs operating in the area, street robbery is one of their passtimes

better off red (28/09/2007 at 13:22)

whacko jacko101, I'm in, meet you in bettabuys later tonight?

Steve Grimsley, Macclesfield (28/09/2007 at 14:26)

AS A PROUD MANCUNIAN I FEEL A SENSE OF SHAME WHEN I READ THE AWFUL REPORT.
WHEN IS ENOUGH ENOUGH.THE PROBLEM WE HAVE NOW IS THAT YOU CANNOT CALL A SCUMBAG A SCUMBAG.THEY WILL HAVE A BROKEN HOME,OR A TRAGIC CHILDHOOD OR SOME OTHER EXCUSE.THIS WONDERFUL GOVERNMENT HAS TRIED TO BAN THE WORD "FAIL" AT SCHOOLS AS IT UPSETS THE KIDS,
WELL THESE TWO SCUMBAGS HAVE FAILED AS HUMAN BEINGS AND YOU DONT GET A BIGGER FAILURE THAN THAT.

Happyblue, Failsworth (28/09/2007 at 15:27)

Guess nothing about the human race has really changed since we stopped living in caves,the weak still suffer and are taken advantage of,

Mikee8 (28/09/2007 at 17:18)

ONE DAY A REAL A REAL RAIN WILL COME AND WASH THIS SCUM OFF THE STREET. UNTIL THEN WE HAVE PCSO LUCKY HE WAS NOT NEAR A LAKE.

Toys CTID, Woodford (28/09/2007 at 21:00)

What is this world comng to?
Gun crime in Heald Green

My 92 year old grandmother was sitting in her bungalow by her back window reading her paper during the week. When an airgun pellet came thru the said window narrowly missing her.

Phoned the police to report the incident they gave us a crime number but said they wouldnt take any further action.

Do the police care anymore or are they just too snowed under with resources stretched to help an old lady?

Pescado (29/09/2007 at 05:57)

jacko 101
I seriously hope the people of the UK not just MCR and the NW remember your words come the next election.
Ask the candidates where they stand on crime and punishment before you vote, regardless of what party they pretend to represent.

judypatudy01, usa (01/10/2007 at 01:01)

This is horrible, that stupid people would attack someone in a wheelchair..
I hope they get caught and severe punishment..

Dennis Meehan (16/10/2007 at 16:28)

Just to thank everybody who made a comment. It still makes me feel Mancunian people do care which is much appreciated. It did affect me to the extent I couldn't go out and it's only recently I ventured to restart my life and not to let them stop me from living (even if it is in a wheelchair!). Justice will prevail! Many thanks - wheelchairden

GARFIELD (16/10/2007 at 16:42)

good for you and don't let them get you down

michelle skelton (17/10/2007 at 11:57)

keep your chin up den we are all thinking about you
kath,shell,trev,kyle,wayne,and kids xx

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