Teen to face trial for alleged slashing

JURISDICTION to hear a case in the Dublin Children’s Court involving a boy arrested for attacking a youth with a glass bottle leaving him scarred and needing plastic surgery was refused today.

The 17-year-old boy was in court facing a charge for assault causing harm, which happened at Park West Avenue, in west Dublin, on May 21 last. The defendant, who is from the north west of Ireland, was aged 15 at the time, Judge Bryan Smyth heard.

Outlining the allegations, Garda Gavin Coleman, of Ballyfermot station, said a youth and some friends passed another group of teenagers who had been with the defendant.

“Some words were exchanged and the accused and the injured party were in an altercation,” Garda Coleman said.

“A broken bottle was picked up by the accused and thrown into the face of the injured party,” he added.

The victim sustained serious facial injuries and was taken directly to hospital where he was kept for two days for reconstructive plastic surgery.

Garda Coleman furnished the court with medical reports and photographs of injuries suffered by the youth who has been left with permanent facial scarring.

Defence solicitor Ms Catherine Ghent pleaded for the case to be retained in the Children’s Court.

The teenage defendant, she submitted, had not come to adverse Garda attention before the attack nor since. She said it had been an “isolated incident.”

Detailing his personal circumstances, she said the boy’s found it difficult when his parents separated and started new relationships. He was living with his father and hoped to receive counselling but there was a three-year waiting list for it in his locality.

At the time of the incident the teenager had been visiting his mother now living in Dublin. During his visits he had got to know teenagers “some with criminal involvement”, Ms Ghent submitted.

However, Judge Smyth held that the case should go forward to the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, which has wider sentencing powers. The teenager, who was accompanied to court by his mother, was remanded on bail for six weeks when he is to be served with the book of evidence.