Boy, 16, admits attacking deaf man

The Dublin Children’s Court has granted conditional bail to a 16-year-old boy who has admitted instigating an attack on a partially deaf man.

The man, who is in his forties, received 30 stitches to his head and his hearing aid, worth €1,500, was completely destroyed as a result of the attack.

Before the attack he had been in good health but in its aftermath he suffered two heart attacks, the court was told.

The boy has been charged with assault causing harm and criminal damage, at Sillogue Avenue, in Ballymun, Dublin, on February 17 last. An adult co-defendant is to face trial in the Circuit Court over his role in the incident.

Defence solicitor Michelle Finan said the teenage boy, who was accompanied to court by his mother, would be pleading guilty.

The Director of Public Prosecutions had recommended that the boy’s prosecution should also be sent forward to the Circuit Court, which can impose lengthier sentences that the Children’s Court.

Ms Finan said he was a juvenile and the Children’s Court had discretion to retain jurisdiction in his case.

In an outline of the evidence, Garda Richard Heraghty told Judge Patrick McMahon victim and been walking home.

“Words were exchanged with the defendant who then ran at the injured party and threw a number of punches at him. While he was punching him the co-accused hit him with a bottle.”

The victim’s hearing aid was broken in his ear. He added that prior to the incident his health had been good but since then he suffered two heart attacks.

Ms Finan said it could not be known that the man’s later health problems were a result of the attack.

She said the teenager began getting into trouble after he dropped out of school and starting abusing alcohol.

Pleading for the case to be kept in the Children’s Court she said he co-operated with gardaí and had recently commenced a training course.

She submitted that when he attacked the man he could not have known the “horrendous consequences”, resulting from the other youth’s use of a bottle, would happen.

She said everyone who has worked with the teenager has found him to be a “nice fellah” but in need of guidance.

Judge McMahon said he was reserving his decision to allow time for the State to respond to the defence submissions. He remanded the teenager on bail to appear again later this month.

Strict bail conditions were imposed including a curfew compelling him to be in his home between 8pm and 8am, as well as a ban on him having any contact with the victim.