Teen held in connection with samurai sword attack

A teenager was remanded in custody today after he was charged in connection with a burglary where a man and woman were allegedly attacked with a samurai sword.

The 17-year-old boy was brought before the Dublin Children’s Court where he was charged with aggravated burglary and assault causing harm to the man and woman, who are in their twenties, at Park Hill West, in Tallaght, on the morning of New Years’ Day last.

Garda Padraig Mullarkey, of Tallaght station, told Judge Ann Ryan that he arrested the teenager, who cannot be identified because he is a juvenile, this morning. The teen replied “it was not me” when he was charged.

The court was told that the teen’s parents had indicated that they “were not in a position to take him home.”

The boy had instructed his counsel to make a bail application saying that he would be able to reside in hostel accommodation.

Garda Mullarkey objected to bail citing the seriousness of the offence, the strength of evidence in the case and the likely sentence that could be imposed.

He said that it was alleged that the door of a house was “kicked in” and a man and his partner were “badly assaulted with a samurai sword.” The man underwent “three-and-a-half hours in surgery in Tallaght hospital as a result of serious injuries he sustained.”

He added that the woman suffered a broken nose and both she and her partner had identified the teen, whom they had known for over two years.

The Director of Public Prosecutions had held that the presiding judge in the Children’s Court was to decide if the case should be retained there or instead be sent forward to the Circuit Court, which can impose lengthier sentences.

The maximum sentence in the Children’s Court would be 12 months.

The boy spoke up during his bail hearing saying “I did not do it.”

However, Judge Ryan told him that the issue of determining guilt or innocence was not being dealt with at that stage.

She said she noted Garda’s grounds for opposing bail and also the difficulties in relation to where the teen was to reside, and refused bail. She remanded the teenager in custody to St Patrick’s Institution for one week.

The issue of whether the case is to be retained in the Children’s Court or be sent forward to the Circuit Court is to be considered later.

The teen, who is in full time employment, had been accompanied to court by his mother and his father, who was in tears during the case.

An adult co-defendant is also facing prosecution over the alleged incident.