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I want people to see what these evil animals did to poor mum
THE distraught son of a pensioner hacked by machete thugs revealed the true extent of her horror injuries — and said: "I want people to see what these animals did to my mum."
Anguished Andrew Coulter released the shocking picture yesterday as his battered and bloodied mother Mary, 76, lay in hospital.
She suffered horrific slash wounds, broken arms and a fractured skull when four masked thugs stormed into her home in Overtown, Lanarkshire, and launched a vile, unprovoked attack. Furious Andrew said last night: "The family are disgusted. I'm devastated at this.
"I just want whoever did this to be caught — they are animals, absolute animals."
Last night it emerged mum-of-six Mary endured SIX HOURS of emergency surgery on her mangled face.
She's now recovering in Glasgow's Southern General Hospital after the thugs smashed down her door and raided her ground-floor flat just after 5am on Friday.
Retired cleaner Mary — who uses walking sticks — tried to flee but was subjected to the gruesome attack with a machete and a bat.
Smiling ... Mary Coulter in happier times before the senseless attack The men attacked her in her hallway before pursuing her on to the street — but ran off when her screams alerted neighbours.
She is the mum of Ronnie Coulter, 43, and gran of Andrew Coulter, 30, who were tried and acquitted for the 1998 murder of Indian waiter Surjit just round the corner from the pensioner's home. But detectives believe she was not the intended victim.
And her jobless son Andrew, 47 — who was not involved in the Chhokar probe — said he had no clue why she was beaten.
Reliving the moment he heard about the cowardly attack on his mum, he said: "I got a call at 8.30am on Friday to say my mum was in hospital.
"My mum said there were four guys, she asked them what they wanted. They were running about looking through the house.
Sick ... a machete like this was used in the attack at Mary's home "And then they hit her on the forehead with the machete. They hit her a total of three times."
It's thought Andrew's nephew Andrew — who moved into the same street last year — had become involved in a dispute in the area in recent weeks.
But Mary's son Andrew said: "The police mentioned yesterday about the motive and money — she has nothing but her pension. Ask anybody about my mum and they'll tell you she is a smashing old woman. She doesn't deserve this — nobody deserves this."
But he added: "My mum was already compos mentis when I saw her, she is old school and has been a trooper."
Yesterday cops continued their probe in the "despicable" assault, sealing off the path to her flat.
Detective Chief Inspector Pat Campbell — who is leading the Strathclyde Police probe — said he did not believe the Chhokar case was linked to the assault.
Horror scene ... Mary Coulter's home in Overtown, LanarkshireBut he does think the attack was meant for someone else — and he reckons Mary is "very much lucky to be alive". He said: "It's been a sustained horrific attack on her. We are keeping an open mind regarding the motive.
"But what we do know is that she was not the intended victim.
"One of the things we are looking at is if the address is correct or is it an address within that locality."
He added: "This is a despicable crime. The elderly lady was not putting up any barrier to these people. She is lucky to be alive.
"She has been in the wrong place at the wrong time."
Neighbours said they were now living in fear of further violence.
One said: "We are all worried there will be more bloodshed."
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