Teen to face trial for attacking youth
A teenage schoolboy is to be tried before a jury at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for taking part in an attack on a youth who was allegedly left with a broken jaw and an internal tear to his stomach.
The 17-year-old boy has been charged at the Children’s Court with assault causing harm to the youth, on May 16 last, at Treacy’s Lane, in Dundrum, in Dublin.
In an outline of the evidence, Garda Emma Woodlock of Stepaside station told Judge Bryan Smyth today it was alleged a row broke out following a house party. The teenager and another defendant, who is facing a separate prosecution, allegedly assaulted the youth, by “kicking and punching him to the ground.”
She told Judge Smyth that the youth was rendered unconscious for 30 minutes and suffered a fractured jaw and “an internal tear to his pancreas.”
Judge Smyth heard that the defence was pleading for the case not to be sent to the Circuit Court, which can, on conviction, impose lengthier sentences than the Children’s Court.
The boy would be pleading not guilty to the charge, the defence submitted.
Judge Smyth refused jurisdiction for the case to be dealt with in the Children’s Court.
He ordered trial on indictment at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court and remanded the boy, who was accompanied by his mother, on bail to appear again in two weeks when he is to be served with the book of evidence.
