Last chance for teenager who punched chairman of residents' group 10 times
By Tom Tuite
A Dublin teenager has been given a last chance to avoid a nine-month sentence for attacking a residents association chairman who was beaten up on his way to a neighbourhood watch meeting.
The victim, who spent years campaigning to improve his community in Dublin, plans to move out of the area after the vicious attack which left him psychologically scarred, the Dublin Children’s Court heard.
The 16-year-old boy, who made his own family homeless through his anti-social behaviour, has pleaded guilty to assault causing harm in connection with the incident in Tyrrelstown in Dublin on a date in August 2016.
A negative probation report on the boy was furnished. Judge John O’Connor granted a final adjournment for five weeks and said that unless the teenager began to engage with the Probation Service he would face a nine-month custodial sentence.
The victim had told the court he had been on his way to a neighbourhood watch meeting when he was set on and punched up to 10 times during the beating. “The assault last a few seconds but impacted on me for the rest of my life to come,” he said.
The teen has also made his own family homeless through his anti-social behaviour, the court has heard.
In a victim impact statement, the man said months after the incident he and his young daughter had been chased home by the teen and his gang. The unprovoked attack has led to life changes, he said.
He described how his work with the residents association helped get a school set up and a park opened in the area. He said it was very rewarding for him. However, the community struggled with the rise of anti-social behaviour.
He said he was aware of almost everything happening in the area and tried to push gardaí and other agencies to tackle criminal behaviour there. He detailed how after years of helping his community he resigned from the residents association and felt that decision was forced by the incident.
“A kid assaulted me and I was not able to defend myself,” he said adding that this was very upsetting and after the attack “fear took over”.
He described how a few months later he had been out with his daughter and the teen walked past them and started following them. The teen and his gang chased them to his house, he told the court.
His daughter had been unaware of the attack. As far as she knew, her dad’s injury came from a bang on the head that happened in the attic.
He said his daughter has been put in danger and he wanted to move.
“The assault lasted a few seconds but impacted on me for the rest of my life to come,” he said. The man - who was shaking as he recalled the effect of the attack - told the court he was left psychologically scarred.
He used up annual leave from work and went to counselling. His main hobby was running but he now goes to another area to run.
Judge O’Connor commended his bravery for coming to court and sharing his experience.
The defendant, who cannot be named because he is a minor, was granted bail pending sentencing.
The boy, who has no prior criminal convictions, also admitted stealing €900 worth of food from supermarkets on two dates this year.
The schoolboy and his parents now live in emergency accommodation since being evicted.
He also agreed to stay out of the area where he used to live and have no contact with several named youths.
Garda Rosanna Caul told the court the victim had been on the way to a neighbourhood watch meeting when he spoke to a group of youths. It was alleged he was followed and the boy “punched him nine or 10 times from behind”.
The man was struck to the head and also suffered an open wound over his right eye, the court was told. A medical report was furnished to the court.
Judge O’Connor heard that gardaí also had CCTV evidence.
