Limerick Circuit Court has heard detailed evidence about the suffering of two children who were severely burned in an arson attack on their mother's car in Moyross in Limerick in September 2006.
Seven-year-old Millie Murray and her five-year-old brother Gavin have been permanently disfigured as a result of the attack.
The court was told that they will need medical treatment for the rest of their lives and will never return to full health.
Millie and Gavin Murray made a brief visit to court in Limerick today, prior to the sentencing hearing of three teenagers charged in connection with the petrol bomb attack on their mother's car.
Details were heard about how the children were extensively burned in the attack.
Millie has injuries to her arm, thigh and back; Gavin has injuries to his face, arm and back. The little boy's scalp was so badly burned his ear was effectively melted away.
Both children have had extensive skin grafts and will have to continue medical treatment for several years.
They have to have daily treatments and have received intensive physiotherapy and both wear medical burn suits.
In her victim impact statment the children's mother, Sheila Murray, said she managed to get Millie out of the car but could not even see Gavin because of the thick black smoke and flames.
She said she does not think she will ever get rid of the guilt of not getting Gavin out with Millie. She said that had she done so, he might not have been burned so badly.
Jonathon O'Donoghue and John Mitchell, both aged 18, and Robert Sheehan, aged 17, all from Moyross in Limerick have pleaded guilty to charges arsing from the arson attack.
The court heard the attack took place after Sheila Murray had refused O'Donoghue and Sheehan a lift to court.
The judge lifted reporting restrictions on the naming of the children involved and on the naming of the 17-year-old accused youth.
Sentencing has been adjourned until 12 October.
