Teenage assault victim dies in hospital

A teenager died today in a Dublin hospital three days after he was assaulted in Ballymun.

The 19-year-old had been in a critical condition in the Mater Hospital but died as a youth charged in relation to the incident appeared in court.

A Garda spokesman said an 18-year-old Dublin man appeared before Dublin District Court this morning charged in connection with the assault of the 19-year-old at Coultry Road, Ballymun.

“The 18-year-old was arrested yesterday afternoon and was held under the provisions of Section 4, Criminal Justice Act, 1984, at Ballymun Garda Station,” he added.

However, the 19-year-old victim died shortly after the man appeared in court.

A Garda spokesman said a decision was yet to be taken whether the charge faced by the 18-year-old would now be changed.

The deceased’s body is to be moved to the City Morgue at Marino for a post mortem exam.

A Garda spokeswoman said the dead man’s name will not be released until all next of kin have been informed.