Boy admits assaults on mother and sister

A 17-year-old boy assaulted his mother, his sister, took part in a gang attack on a bus driver and has gone on to threaten his probation officer who has been attempting to help him, a court has heard.

The boy, who is from Dublin’s south side, had pleaded guilty at the Children’s Court to two separate assaults on his mother, on dates in September and January last at their family home. He also admitted attacking his sister and criminally damaging furniture in the house during the second incident.

The teen has also admitted assault causing harm to a bus driver in Terenure, in March last year. The court had heard the boy took part in a group attack on the driver who sustained “three or four punches on his head and was left with a burst lip, swollen eyes and nose.” He was caught when he was identified from CCTV footage of the incident which took place on a bus.

Judge Elizabeth MacGrath was told that the teenager, who has completed school and intended to go to college, had been attending psychiatric counselling.

She also noted concerns which were raised by the Probation Service that the boy had admitted spending a “€50 to €90 a week” on cannabis. And Judge MacGrath said that concerns have been raised that the boy has made threats against his probation officer, who has been trying to assist him with his problems.

The boy, who was accompanied by his mother, shook his head when details of his drugs spend and the allegations of the threat were aired in court.

His solicitor said the boy claimed there was a misunderstanding over how much he spent on drugs.

“No miss,” the boy said to the judge when she put it to him that there were concerns over his use of cannabis.

“I feel that some times if you abuse cannabis, it abuses you back but I do not abuse it enough for that,” he said. In contrast to what he told his psychiatrist he claimed in court that his drugs spend was closer to €50 a month.

He further denied making a threat against his probation officer but admitted when asked by the judge that he had difficulties. “Yes miss, my anger - I think that is the main one,” said the boy.

Judge MacGrath adjourned sentencing until next month to allow time for the boy to continue to work with his probation officer to address his offending and other problems. A psychiatric report was also sought by the judge who warned the teenager that he had to overcome his problems and accept assistance from the Probation Service otherwise he would “be before the courts again”.