Boy, 17, to face Circuit Court for part in attack

A 17-year-old boy arrested for taking part in a gang attack on a man who was beaten and kicked on the ground in front of his girlfriend, is to face the Circuit Court, a judge has ruled.

The boy, who is originally from Romania, has been charged with assault causing harm to the man, who is in his twenties, at Lucan Road, in west Dublin, on January 31 last year.

Judge Ann Ryan had heard at the Dublin Children’s Court that it was alleged that the man who had been with his girlfriend, was approached by a member of the teen’s group.

The man was knocked the ground and then three others, including the defendant, joined in, it was alleged.

It was also alleged that during the struggle, the man was kicked on the ground, by the teenager.

The court had heard that he made a recovery but the incident left him and his girlfriend “very shook up".

Defence solicitor Michelle Finan pleaded with the judge to retain the case in the jurisdiction of the Children’s Court. She appealed to Judge Ryan not to send the case forward to the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, which can impose lengthier sentences.

She submitted that though the teen was allegedly involved in the attack he had not been the main instigator. She added that the teen, who was accompanied to court by his brother, was taking part in a training course and had no previous convictions.

However, Judge Ryan held that the case “extremely serious” and ordered that the case should be sent forward.

She remanded the boy on bail to appear again next month when he is to be served with the book of evidence in the case and returned for trial.