Teen sentenced for role in gang attack on Polish boy

A teenager, who took part in a gang attack on a Polish boy, who was repeatedly kicked and stamped on, has today given a six-month sentence by Judge Ann Ryan at the Dublin Children’s Court.

The attack was over a cigarette lighter, the court was told.

The 17-year-old boy had pleaded guilty to assault causing harm to a 17-year-old Polish teen, at Church View Road, in Ballybrack, in south Dublin, on April 6 last.

Giving evidence in relation to the attack Detective Garda Alan Clear, of Cabinteely station, had said that the victim had been walking through a car park when he was asked for the loan of a cigarette lighter by some youths.

He agreed to let them use the lighter but they refused to return it and he followed them into a field.

“The victim was knocked to the ground, youths held him down. Two kicked and punched him on the ground. The assault lasted for two minutes until the injured party managed to escape,” Det Gda Clear said.

The victim suffered cuts and bruising to his head but has made a full recovery.

The south Dublin teenager had also owned up to a spate of incidents where he broke into 12 cars in Dun Laoghaire, late last year.

He also admitted a trespassing charge where he terrified a woman when he attempted to break into her home, on November 30 last year.

However, Judge Ann Ryan was told today that it was unlikely he would be able to pay compensation.

The teen had earlier spend a month on remand in custody in St Patrick’s Institution for breaching bail conditions by re-offending. At the time he was unable to return to his home because his mother was ill.

However, at a later court appearance she agreed to take him home. She was unable to attend his sentence hearing today due to poor health.

Judge Ryan noted that that the boy was receiving help from the Probation Service and was taking part in a training course. The Probation Service planned to assign a mentor to the boy to help him take part in positive activities.

She imposed a six-month sentence, but suspended it condition he did not re-offend for two years, continued his training course and worked with the Probation Service.

“If you re-offend during that period there will be an arrest warrant and you will serve that sentence,” she warned the boy.

The teen lacked structure in his life had a “precarious home situation”, the court had been told earlier.