Three months for teen in mugging case

A 16-year-old boy, who violently mugged an elderly woman and left her physically and psychologically scarred, has been given a three-month suspended sentence, at the Dublin Children’s Court.

The boy, then aged 14, had ruined the woman’s quality of life and left her unable to do simple household chores and constantly feeling insecure, the court had heard.

The teenager had pleaded to robbing a handbag from the woman, who is in her seventies, at Convent Road, Clondalkin, on January 16, 2005.

Detective Garda John Cleary, of Clondalkin station, had told the court the victim had been waiting for a bus home after mass. The teen grabbed her handbag at which she was pulled and then dragged along the ground leaving her with back injuries.

The boy had no previous conviction, had pleaded guilty and had been deemed by the Probation and Welfare Services as being a low risk re-offender.

A victim impact report furnished to the court the woman outlined the effects the robbery had on her.

It said: "As a result of the attack I suffered injuries to my back and am in continuous pain, I have lack of movement and have to walk with the aid of a stick. My lifestyle was eroded. I was a frequent traveller but rarely go anywhere now."

The report also detailed how the woman now suffered from depression, was insecure in her own home, rarely went outdoors and needed help with her daily chores.

She no longer goes to mass and suffered a loss in confidence and her social life was also ruined.

The teen had expressed remorse in a letter which was to be forwarded to his victim. In the letter the boy, who was supported in court today by his mother, said: "I’m sorry for what happened, sorry for the pain and hardship I put you through. I have two grandmothers of my own and I know how angry I would be if it happened to them."

The boy, who is from south Dublin, had not come to garda notice since the offence.

Earlier Judge Timothy Lucey, who had heard the case, had ordered the boy’s mother to pay €1,000 to the victim as a gesture of remorse and added that if the sum was paid the teen would receive a three-month suspended sentence.

Yesterday presiding Judge Angela Ni Chonduin noted that the compensation had been handed into court. Finalising the case, she imposed a three month sentence but suspended it on condition that the teen was of good behaviour for a period of nine months.