Teen faces trial after youth loses sight in one eye in fight after social media 'slagging', court hears
A youth lost his sight in one eye after “slagging” on Facebook lead to a fight at Dublin's St Stephen's Green in Dublin, a court has heard.
A 17-year-old boy appeared at the Dublin Children's Court today facing a single charge under the Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person Act for causing serious harm to a named youth at St Stephen's Green in August 2016.
The teen, who was accompanied to court by his parents and his solicitor, faced a preliminary hearing to decide his trial venue – whether the case should stay in the Children’s Court or be sent to the Circuit Court which can impose lengthier sentences.
In an outline of the allegations Judge John O’Connor was told that there had been “slagging” on Facebook about an ex-girlfriend and the youth and the victim, who was a similar age and also known to him, got into a fight at the Rock Garden in Stephen’s Green.
Footage filmed on a phone by others at the fight was shown in the court.
Judge O’Connor noted that the victim, who was struck a number of times, was initially taken to St James’s Hospital but later transferred to the Eye and Ear Hospital in Dublin.
The injured boy has been told he will never be allowed to drive, the court was told.
The defendant was aged 15 at the time.
The court heard submissions from the defence under Section 75 of the Children Act.
This part of the legislation allows the juvenile court to accept jurisdiction to hear a trial for certain serious offences which would normally get forward sent to a higher court with tougher sentencing powers.
The defence can cite the age and maturity level of the defendant as well as any other relevant factors in setting out grounds for a serious case to remain in the Children’s Court.
The judge said he noted from the defence that the boy was remorseful and had no prior convictions, but notwithstanding that he ruled that the case was too serious to accept jurisdiction.
The boy was remanded on bail to appear again in six weeks when it is expected he will be served with a book of evidence and returned for trial to the higher court.
