Youth who took part in attack remanded on bail pending sentence

A youth who took part in an unprovoked attack where a man was “rugby tackled” to the ground and repeatedly kicked to his head, has been remanded on continuing bail pending sentence.

The teenager, a 17-year-old first-time offender, had pleaded guilty in July last year at the Children’s Court to assault causing harm to a 49-year-old man at the Cabra Road, in Dublin 7, on October 20, 2007.

Judge Ann Ryan heard that a pre-sentence probation report had been requested by the court. However, the teenager, who was accompanied to court by his father, was claiming that he had not attended his appointment with his probation officer due to a family bereavement.

She said that he was getting a “last chance” and remanded him to appear again for the report to be furnished and for sentencing in May.

In an outline of the evidence arresting Garda Colin Davidson of the Bridewell station had said earlier that the victim had been out walking when he was set on by a group of youths.

“They ran over and punched him a number of times. He was then rugby tackled to the ground.”

“The accused kicked him on the head three or four times when he was on the ground,” he had said and further described the beating as an “unprovoked attack”.

Garda Davidson had agreed that the teenager had been co-operative with the investigation and the victim, who suffered cuts to his head, made a full recovery.