The weekend of the Hoboken St. Patrick’s parade is supposed to be a happy time for proud Irish woman Johanna Wall.
But because a heartless crime, the 84 year-old bar owner will have to spend the weekend at home recovering from being robbed and beaten.
According to police reports, Wall, the owner of the Shannon Lounge on First Street across from City Hall, was assaulted and robbed in the morning hours on Friday, Feb. 22.
According the reports, Wall was working the bar, when an unidentified man came in, struck her two times on her head and took approximately $400 from the drawer behind the bar.
The man left the bar, leaving Wall on the floor semi-conscious. At about 9:45 a.m. Will Wallace, a Hoboken resident who normally stops in to say hello to Wall about every other day, found the injured Wall laying on the ground and quickly called the police.
According to the police, she was taken to St. Mary hospital on Willow Ave., where she was treated for bruises. She was released over the weekend, but remains at home nursing her injuries.
“I have absolutely no idea what type of low-life would strike a 84-year-old woman,” said Wallace Wednesday. “She is a terrific woman in the Irish community and a second mother to a lot of people.”
Wall has been tending bar at the Shannon Lounge since 1953, when she and her husband Michael Wall (who passed away 15 years ago) first open the unadorned watering hole across the way from City Hall.
She also has the claim to fame of being the first ever grand marshall of the Hoboken St. Patrick’s Parade and has proudly attended every parade since, until this one.
“Something will definitely be missing,” said parade organizer and friend Helen Cunning Wednesday. “When we made our way to Washington Street she was always the first person we would look for. It’s hard to believe that something like this could happen in our town.”
She added that Wall would play a gracious host every year for the event. The Shannon was always the first tavern that the parade dignitaries would go after the event.
“She took care of everyone that came into that bar and was proud to do it,” added Cunning. “She is a Hoboken institution. If you came from the country [Ireland] she would find them a place to stay, help them find work and would even cash a check, if that’s what they needed.”
Wallace said that he wouldn’t be surprised to see her back behind the bar in the future. “She’s a tough little lady,” said Wallace. “I think we will see her back in the bar, but from now on, she is going to need company when she is there. I hope so, ’cause she is a great and special lady.”
Police are still patrolling the location and investigating possible leads to the case. “It hard to believe that that piece of garbage walks the streets in our city,” Cunning said.
Wall could not be reached for comment.