Mum tells of battle to nurse son disembowelled by pal

THE mother of a man who was disembowelled by a friend in a row over a broken window has spoken of how she nursed him as he struggled with his horrific injuries.

Anthony McMahon was left in intensive care after pal Jade Parker plunged a seven-inch pink-handled kitchen knife into his stomach during an argument at her home in Dalkeith, Midlothian.

The 41-year-old had known Parker for years – and she called him “Uncle Tony” – but was left fighting for his life after the incident last October.

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Yesterday, at the High Court in Edinburgh, Parker pleaded guilty to attempted murder.

The injuries inflicted were so severe that Mr McMahon’s intestines spilled out of the wound.

Today, his mother, Penelope McMahon, described the struggle her son had faced to recover.

She told the Evening News: “It left Tony in a bad state, traumatised. He had to move in with me and I had him here for a long time. He wasn’t the same person because of it.

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“It left him very ill. As a mother I looked after him after his injuries. Every day that went by, I could see it putting him into a shell.

“It’s really had a bad effect on him, but I saw him through the bad times and I hope nursed him through it.”

She added: “He had a lot of trouble, I didn’t want him to live on his own. He had problems with his bowels, and I was worried he’d get infections.

“He’s able to live on his own now, but it’s still a worry.

“It’s sad for a mother to describe something like this that’s happened to her son.”

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Yesterday, advocate depute Laura Thompson, prosecuting, told the High Court that Mr McMahon arrived at Parker’s home but was not let in.

When he returned to the property he smashed a window and the furious occupant dashed out of the house yelling: “I’m going to f****** stab you.”

Ms Thompson continued: “She then stabbed Mr McMahon in the stomach using a pink knife.

“The injury bled profusely and Mr McMahon’s intestines spilled out of the wound.”

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Paramedics had to hold him together as he was taken to hospital – where he spent 48 hours in intensive care.

Doctors said his life was in danger.

Police questioned Parker, who said she was “raging” after the window was broken but denied the stabbing.

But in court she admitted attempting to murder Mr McMahon.

Police found the blade in Parker’s fridge and noted “a strong perfumed smell”.

Judge Lord Brailsford called for background reports and remanded mum-of-two Parker in custody pending sentence.