Teens for trial over alleged mugging

Two teenage boys, who were charged with taking part in a mugging in which a man was allegedly attacked and knocked unconscious, are to face trial in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, a judge ruled today.

The south Dublin boys, who are aged 15 and 17 years, are charged with robbery of a 40-year-old man, on May 27 last.

Garda Sergeant Mark Kelly of Kevin Street station told the Dublin Children’s Court it was alleged the victim had been making his way home after a night out.

Three youths approached him and asked him for €20 which he refused to give to them and he then walked on.

“The three followed him and attacked him. He was knocked unconscious and suffered injuries, two fractured teeth, lacerations to his left cheek and to the back of his head, nose, and a fracture to his jaw,” Gda-Sgt Kelly alleged.

He further told the court that the victim suffered temporary visual impairment in one eye as a result of the incident. For two weeks after it happened he could only distinguish light or darkness with the injured eye.

His eye sight has now returned to normal, he also added.

The court also heard that neither teen had been in court before.

Judge McMahon held that the case was too serious to be dealt with in the Children’s Court. Refusing jurisdiction to hear the case he ordered trial on indictment in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court instead.

The pair, who were supported in court by family members, were remanded on bail for six weeks to allow the book of evidence in the case to be prepared.