Juvenile system can’t deal with violent youths

A circuit court judge has strongly criticised the juvenile justice system as being incapable of dealing with violent young men who "prowl the streets taking their opportunities as they arrive".

Judge Patrick McCartan was speaking as he sentenced three Dublin men for a vicious city-centre attack on two US tourists who had tried to stop a robbery.

US stockbroker Garth Russell suffered permanent facial scarring as a result of the attack and still has glass embedded under his eye. The court heard his career was “significantly stunted” and his marriage had also suffered. His brother Patrick’s arm was broken.