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Stacy Jurich and State's Attorney Anita Alvarez give their reaction to the guilty verdict
A man has been found guilty of the attempted murder of County Armagh woman Natasha McShane and her friend Stacy Jurich in Chicago three years ago.
Heriberto Viramontes, 34, was convicted at Cook County Criminal Court in the US city on Thursday.
The pair were attacked and robbed in the early hours of 23 April, 2010.
Ms McShane, who had been attending the University of Illinois at the time of the assault, has been left with severe brain damage.
Just before 18:00 local time - midnight UK time - on Thursday, her family, along with Stacy Jurich and her family, were called for the verdict.
At 18:00 hours local time, the McShane family heard that the jury had reached the verdict. They rushed to Courtroom No 504 and stood alongside everyone else as the 10 jurors' verdicts were read out.
Many of the McShanes were in tears as Viramontes was pronounced guilty.
Outside in the lobby, the family faced cameras and journalists.
There were emotional scenes as a statement from Natasha's brother, Conor, was read out. It was clear that the relief at the guilty verdict was tinged with the reality of his sister's current existence - a stark contrast to the bright, smiling young woman so keen to embrace her future and her dreams, three and a half years ago.
Stacy Jurich struggled with her tears as she spoke about the horrific impact that the attack had had on her life, but even more so, on the life of her best friend, Natasha.
The trial lasted five days, it took three and a half hours to find Viramontes guilty on all charges.
There were emotional scenes as the verdicts were delivered.
Shortly afterwards, a statement written by Natasha's brother, Conor, was read out to the press by the state's attorney.
"This crime against my sister has changed my life forever. It has had a devastating impact on our entire family," the statement said.
Conor McShane said the family was pleased and relieved at the verdicts. But he also said that Natasha's life had been ruined by the attack. She has been left unable to talk or walk unaided.
Stacy Jurich said that the time since the attack had been the most difficult in her life.
"We have had a lot of support from our families, friends and complete strangers," she said.
"But the last three and a half years have been the hardest time in my entire life. Not only was it a struggle for me, but it has been a struggle to face what happened to my best friend, Natasha - something I will never forget."
Cook County State's Attorney Anita Alvarez said: "Chicago is a beautiful city, it is a shame that someone like Natasha McShane, who was here to continue her schooling, someone who was visiting from Ireland, that she was not able to enjoy all the beauty that Chicago has to offer.
"Instead of welcoming our visitors with an open heart, she was confronted with a baseball bat. I am very pleased that this man has been held responsible for the brutal and senseless beating of both Stacy Jurich and Natasha McShane."
Viramontes faces between six and 120 years in prison.
In July, his accomplice Marcy Cruz was jailed for 22 years after pleading guilty to two counts of attempted murder over the attack.
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