Dublin teen jailed for assault on Chinese student

A Dublin youth with 30 previous convictions has been given a two-year sentence for his role in assaulting a Chinese student at a bus-stop in the city centre.

Patrick Conroy (aged 18) was due for release from a two-year robbery sentence in February 2010, but will have to remain in prison until the end of May next year because of his latest offence.

Judge Frank O’Donnell directed that Conroy, of Beechwook Downs, Hartstown, Clonsilla, must not be released until May 31, 2010 when the balance of his new sentence would be suspended.

Conroy pleaded guilty to assaulting the Chinese student at a Mountjoy Square bus-stop with three others on July 18, 2007.

His previous convictions include robbery, burglary, attempted burglary, handling stolen property and escaping from lawful custody.

Garda Amy Collins told prosecution counsel, Ms Fiona Murphy BL, that she and another garda witnessed the attack while they were on plain clothes duty that day.

She said neither she nor her colleague saw Conroy assault the student but witnessed another young man, who has already been sentenced, punch him in the face.

The victim told gardaí that Conroy hit him on the left side of his face after the other youth punched him on the nose, knocking his head back on a fence.

Defence counsel, Mr Luigi Rea BL, told the judge that his client was 16 years old at the time of this “opportunistic and mean” crime.

He submitted that “drugs were not a feature” of the assault and that Conroy’s parents would ensure their son’s time is put to “more positive use.”

Judge O’Donnell told Conroy he would suspend the balance of his sentence on his release date next year.