Teen girl admits attacking six gardaí

A 17-year-old girl who attacked six gardai with kicks, spits and a head butt has been remanded on bail pending sentencing at the Dublin Children's Court.

The girl pleaded guilty to attacking six officers in Coolock, in Dublin on May 29 last year. One Garda Sergeant, whom the court was told was six foot two inches in height and about twice the teen's weight, was attacked twice.

Garda Louise Burns told Judge Eamon O'Brien that a female garda had been arresting the girl who had been drinking cans of beer in public. The garda was spat at in her face. The sergeant who had been trying to help arrest the teen was “kicked in the right upper thigh.”

The teen had admitted that she had been drinking but told the court that “I was not locked.”

Judge O'Brien heard that while being held at Coolock Garda station, the girl spat at another garda.

Another garda was also spat at in her eye giving her conjunctivitis. The teen continued to struggle with a garda in the station kicking her to the chest and then head butted another male officer. A reserve garda was also scraped on his arm.

On leaving the station with her older sister she spat at the sergeant she had attacked earlier that day and then kicked him on his leg.

Judge O'Brien remanded the girl on bail for four weeks for a probation report and a family welfare conference to be held.

This is to see if she is suitable, as a first time offender, to take part in a crime diversion project whereby she may have to agree to follow an action plan of restorative justice activities.

In court the girl said “sorry” for her behaviour but Judge O'Brien said the apology had to be extracted from the teen, who was accompanied to her case by her mother.

The court was also told that the teen has been attending therapy.