Judge orders trial for teen accused of stabbing

A teenager, who allegedly mugged a student at knife-point and stabbed him three times for his mobile phone, has been sent forward for trial to the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.

The boy, aged 17, was served with the book of evidence at the Dublin Children’s Court today.

Judge Gerard Haughton ordered the teen, who is on bail, to be returned for trial to the present term to the Circuit Court.

Earlier, Garda Keith Halley of Santry station had told the Children’s Court it was alleged a Dublin City University student had left his accommodation at Shanowen Square, in Santry, in Dublin, when he was approached by the boy and two others.

"He was asked for his phone but refused and as he did so the accused proceeded to stab him a number of times trying to inflict injuries so the phone would be handed over," he said.

He said the victim was stabbed once to his arm and twice on his back and he later received three stitches for his wounds.

Garda Halley had also told the court that in the early hours of the following morning a woman was mugged and knocked to the ground. The teenager was allegedly caught trying to use her bank card at a nearby ATM.

The boy is charged with assault causing harm to the student, on the night of April 3, 2007, and possession of stolen goods from the second alleged incident.

The north Dublin boy’s bail conditions state he cannot go to the areas where the alleged offences happened.

He was accompanied to court today by a family friend because his mother was sick.

Jurisdiction to hear the case in the Children’s Court had been refused previously and an order was made that instead it should be sent to the Circuit Court which can impose lengthier sentences.