Teen had attacked boys after they 'had called him 'knacker''

A youth, who attacked two teenage boys leaving one with bite marks on his arm and ear, after they allegedly called him a "knacker", has been given a nine-month suspended sentence.

The 17-year-old, who is a member of the travelling community, had never been in trouble with the law until he attacked two boys from a "privileged background", whom he claimed had called him a knacker while he was travelling on a bus.

The Dublin Children’s Court also heard yesterday that the youth had saved €600 as compensation for his victims, which was all he could afford.

He is in full time work but has to support his mother and large family. His mother is separated from his violent father who is under a court order not to approach her.

Judge Mary Collins said that the money was nothing like the compensation the victim was due.

She said there was no excuse for his actions and added that she was "horrified" by the account of the incident.

However, she also noted that there was a positive probation report, that the boy has shown remorse for his actions and had pleaded guilty to the assault from the outset. She also heard that he had not been in trouble with the gardaí since the incident.

The suspended sentence was given on the grounds that it had been deemed that the youth was unlikely to re-offend.

The youth told Judge Collins that his court appearance yesterday would be his last.

Judge Collins had heard earlier that the youth had pleaded guilty to assaulting two 15-year-old boys causing them harm on the Brennanstown Road, Cabinteely, Dublin, on March 9 last year.

A verbal exchange on a bus between the victims and the youth and his party escalated into the attack.

The victims had disembarked at their bus stop but were followed by the youth and his friend. The youth then attacked the two boys.

Photographic evidence of their injuries had shown that one was left with teeth marks on his arm and on his right ear. The second boy had been punched and was left with a bruised face and bloody nose.

His upset family were also shocked by what he had done, defence solicitor Ms Sarah Molloy said.

The teenager had accepted responsibility for the attack at the earliest opportunity, firstly by making a full cautioned statement to the gardaí admitting his role and then in court by pleading guilty at an early stage.

The teenager had grown up in a violent home and his mother had come to rely on him to help support her and her other children.

From early childhood, the youth, who is in full-time employment, had witnessed domestic violence, which had effected his ability to control his temper, the court also heard.

He had admitted in court that he had never he lost control to the same extent as when he attacked the two boys, whom he claimed had verbally abused him because he is a member of the travelling community.

"They were slagging me, calling me names, calling me a knacker," he had said.

Judge Collins said today that the sentence would be suspended, and a peace bond imposed, on the grounds that he remained in full-time employment and did not commit another offence within two years.

The youth was warned this sentence would be activated if there are further convictions within the next two years.