A man has been sentenced to 90 years in jail for the attempted murder of Co. Armagh woman Natasha McShane, and her friend, during a night out in Chicago four years ago.

Heriberto Viramontes (35) was convicted at Cook County Criminal Court in the US last October.

Heriberto Viramontes sentenced to 90 years

Natasha McShane and her Chicago friend Stacy Jurich were attacked and robbed as they walked home after a night out in the early hours of April 23rd 2010.

The vicious assault left Ms. McShane with severe brain damage - she is now unable to talk or walk unaided.

Natasha (27), from Silverbridge in Co. Armagh, had been attending the University of Illinois at the time of the assault.

Mr. Viramontes, who was found guilty of the attempted murder of the two girls last October, was yesterday sentenced to 90 years in prison.

Viramontes' accomplice Marcy Cruz was jailed for 22 years last July, after pleading guilty to two counts of attempted murder over the attack.