Boy, 17, left detective with 'life-long injury'

A 17-year -old boy, who left a detective with a life long leg injury, has been remanded for sentence by the Dublin Children’s Court.

The teenager pleaded guilty to assault causing harm to the detective, who suffered muscle damage, when he was attacked on Britain Place in north inner city Dublin, on June 6, 2005.

Garda Yvonne Brady told Judge Ann Ryan that she found the boy carrying his younger brother who was extremely intoxicated. The teen’s younger brother was later arrested at which the defendant violently intervened.

It took five gardai to restrain the boy including a detective who was “kicked and punched suffering knee and thigh injuries for which he is currently receiving treatment.”

The north Dublin defendant already had 16 previous convictions for theft, attempted robbery and assault offences and had previously served detention sentences in St Patrick’s Institution.

Defence solicitor Kelly Breen told Judge Ryan that the boy was “no stranger to the courts”, was remorseful for his actions and was currently in custody on remand in relation to other charges.

She said he had poor literacy skills, little work experience and could benefit from assistance from the Probation Service to help stop a “chaotic cycle.”

Judge Ryan adjourned sentencing until December and agreed that Probation Service intervention could assist the teenager with his problems and address finding a training course for him in the hope it would put him “back on the straight and narrow.”

She added, however, that the boy had left the detective with an injury for the rest of his life and the court had to be mindful of that in considering sentence.