Irish mum Ann Gibbon races to daughter Eileen’s bedside following Millner shooting

The family of a Darwin mum who was shot by her ex-partner in a horror domestic-violence motivated attack have shared details of her recovery.

The family of Eileen Gibbons have shared photos of her recovery after the 38-year-old was shot in the stomach by her ex-partner in a suspected attempted murder-suicide in Millner on October 3.

An Irish grandmother has thanked the Territory community for keeping her daughter’s “spirit alive” following a horror shooting in a Darwin home.

Irish-born social worker Eileen Gibbons was found bleeding out from a gunshot wound to the stomach, following a domestic violence related attack.

A firearm was found near the body of her 35-year-old ex-partner at the Millner home, as a police investigation into his suspected attempted murder-suicide continues.

A firearm was found near the body of her 35-year-old ex-partner at the Millner home, as a police investigation into his suspected attempted murder-suicide continues. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

It is understood Ms Gibbons was living at a shelter with her one-year-old daughter when she went to the Millner home to collect her belongings on Tuesday evening, October 3.

Neighbours reported hearing two gunshots, before the screaming began as the 35-year-old man’s family tried to save them.

Ten days after the shooting, Ms Gibbons’ mother Ann, aunt Marian and her cousin Maria touched down in Darwin to be by her side.

Her family has since shared a smiling photo of the 38-year-old social worker with her daughter, while clutching a newspaper from her hometown in Castlebar.

Ann thanked the Territorians who waited by her daughter’s bedside “keeping her spirit alive” and those who stepped in to care for her 1-year-old granddaughter, Silvia.

”We are forever grateful,” Ann wrote on Facebook.

“From the bottom of our hearts we thank you each and everyone.

“Know that your support has made all the difference to Eileen and Silvia’s life.”

“The lovely messages, phone calls, prayers, candles and financial support we have received have lifted us up and carried us along on a river of goodwill.”

Eileen Gibbons was shot in the stomach by her ex-boyfriend in an attempted murder suicide in Millner on October 3.

Ann said the support for her was testament to her daughter’s one-of-a-kind “humour, wit and charm”.

“(She leaves) a lasting impression left on those who know and love her.”

Eileen’s cousin Enda O’Brien started a Go Fund Me to support her family in the wake of the shooting, which raised more than €102,000 ($AU171,022) in 20 days.

Ms O’Brien said the money would help her cousin on her journey to recovery, and get her and her daughter “back to normality and enjoy the life that they deserve”.

She said the outpouring of support showed “the world that when tragedy strikes, people care”.

“Dea-mhéin agus go riabh maith agat (Best wishes and thank you),” Ms O’Brien said.

The family of the 35-year-old man held a graveside memorial for him on Monday, October 23.

Recently revealed documents showed that the NT Government ignored expert advice to allocate $180m to a domestic violence action plan over five years, scaling it back to $20m over two years.

This included cutting funding from Men’s Behaviour Change Programs from a recommended $33m package to just $9.13m.

Originally published as Irish mum Ann Gibbon races to daughter Eileen’s bedside following Millner shooting