Boy, 17, jailed for attack on foreign nationals
A teenage petrol-sniffing addict, who took part in two attacks on foreign nationals, has been detained for six months, by Judge Ann Ryan at the Dublin Children’s Court.
The out-of-school boy (aged 17) had admitted assault causing harm to a security guard, whom he had called a “Paki b*******” and then bit after he was caught shoplifting, on August 30 last, at Aston Quay, in Dublin city-centre.
The victim suffered swelling and bruising on his leg as a result of the bite. The boy admitted breaking a shop window, in connection with the attack.
Judge Ryan had heard how the teen had been found on another occasion in a dishevelled and heavily intoxicated state, in possession of a bottle of petrol and ran out onto a busy street where he was nearly knocked down by traffic.
He had also owned up to theft of a handbag from a pub on Dublin’s Middle Abbey Street.
The boy had also entered a guilty to assault causing harm to a Chinese man, at Mountjoy Square, in Dublin, on August 18 last.
Garda Amy Collins of Fitzgibbon Street station had said the victim had been at a bus stop.
“Three males and a female approached. Two males and the girl held him and pushed him against railings. As they were holding him the accused head butted him.”
The judge noted that the boy had pleaded guilty to all incidents.
However, she held the attack on the Chinese national was too serious for the Children’s Court to deal with. She ordered that it should be sent forward to the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, which can impose lengthier sentences.
She imposed a six-month sentence in St Patrick’s Institution on the remaining charges. She also ordered him to enter into a six-month probation bond which is to commence on his release.
This was to allow the Probation Service to offer him guidance for his problems and to help him to address his offending.
Defence solicitor John Quinn said the boy had a “traumatic history". The boy’s parents were deceased and his grandmother wanted him to live with her.
However, the teen refused and started living on the streets instead. His distraught grandmother developed stress related illness as a result of worrying about him.
His social worker had said the fact that he was taking responsibility for his actions was a positive step and on his release a number of services would be available to help him.
The boy’s court appointed guardian had told Judge Ryan earlier that she has been working with him for the last two years.
“Since July last year I would feel that things have deteriorated to a huge degree for him. He had to deal with a number of deaths in his family during the year; it has been horrendous for him.”
“He has a petrol sniffing problem and there is concern that is developing into harder drugs now.”
She had also said that huge efforts had been made by social services to provide the boy with drug addiction counselling and assistance from a childcare worker.
