Schoolboys to face trial for attack in Circuit Criminal Court

Two schoolboys charged in relation to a sustained street attack on an Egyptian national, who was allegedly beaten with a rock and a metal pole, are to face trial at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.

Judge Ann Ryan, presiding at the Children’s Court, held that the case should not be retained there and must be sent to the higher court which, on conviction, has wider sentencing powers.

The boys, who are aged 17 and 18, from the Middle East and are in care, have been charged at the Children’s Court with assault causing harm to an Egyptian man, in his 20s, at South Richmond Street in Dublin, on March 19 last year.

Garda Eoghan O’Neill of Harcourt Terrace station furnished a medical report on the victim to the court and gave an outline of the allegations.

It was alleged that the man had been set on over a row about his girlfriend. He was left with cuts on his cheek, the top and back of his head, over his right eye, the base of his neck and needed eight stitches to his face, the Children’s Court has been told.

Garda O’Neill also said that a scar left on the victim’s chin “did not seem likely to heal”.

The man was allegedly attacked by two youths and it was alleged the younger defendant had used a metal pole and a rock.

“The assault began at South Richmond Street and ran on into Rathmines where the injured party went into a shop,” he had said.

The pair, who were accompanied to court by care workers, were remanded on continuing bail to appear again in May, when they are to be served with books of evidence and sent forward for trial.