Teenage garda attacker escapes without conviction

A 15-year-old boy, who punched a Garda who had been trying to arrest his friend, has been let off without a criminal conviction by Judge Patrick Clyne, at the Dublin Children’s Court.

The boy had pleaded guilty to assaulting and obstructing a Garda which happened in Ballymun, in Dublin, on January 20 last.

Garda Eamon Taaffe told Judge Clyne that he had two colleagues had been attempting to arrest a youth who was extremely intoxicated when 20 teenagers arrived and surrounded them.

“He and the others tried to free the youth by pulling at one of the gardaí. I saw the accused punch one Garda on the side of his face,” he said.

The court heard that the teen, who was accompanied to court by his mother, had previously been cautioned through the Garda Juvenile Liaison Programme, but had no criminal convictions.

The Garda also agreed that the teen had since been apologetic.

The boy’s solicitor Ms Sarah Molloy said his parents had taken his prosecution very seriously. The teen had left school early but was now taking part in an alternative to mainstream education course.

“On the day of the incident he had a lot of drink taken,” the court was told.

Judge Clyne noted the guilty plea but imposed the Probation Act, releasing the youngster without a criminal conviction.

“That is on the basis that he has never been in court before and I never want to see him here again,” he warned.