Schoolgirl avoids jail for role in gang attack on younger teen

A 16-year-old schoolgirl, who took part in an unprovoked gang attack on a 14-year-old girl, has escaped a custodial sentence after paying €200 in compensation and writing a letter of apology.

The young victim was set on by a group of six juveniles, punched, kicked and received a blow to her head, the Dublin Children's Court has heard.

The teen pleaded guilty to assaulting the victim on December 27, 2008, at a park in north Dublin and her case had been adjourned until today for a pre-sentence probation report to be furnished to the court and for the compensation to be paid.

Garda Brian Amerlynk had told the court that the teenager “admitted kicking and punching the injured party, once to the head.”

He had said the teen had been the company of other youths, some of whom knew the victim from school.

“There was slagging between one of the group the accused was in. It started off as name calling and the injured party was followed into the park where the assault occurred,” Garda Amerlynk had told the court.

Other members of the teen's group did not face court and had been dealt with through the Garda Juvenile Diversion Programme.

Judge Bryan Smyth noted that the compensation had been handed over, the teen had written a letter of apology and had not come to further garda attention. He agreed to follow the recommendations of the pre-sentence report and released the girl on a supervised probation bond for nine months.

The teen, who had no prior convictions, was ordered to continue to continue to co-operate with her probation officer to address offending behaviour, attend school and to be tested for drug misuse if requested.

The teen, who also faced another charge for using false driving licence to visit a person in Mountjoy Prison was also banned from visiting any jail unless in the company of her parents, and was warned that she must obey their house rules.

During her hearing earlier, defence solicitor Adrian Lennon had said the teen has had no further contact with the others who were involved in the attack. He had also said that the teenage girl's life has stabilised since then.

The victim received minor injuries but it was noted by the court earlier from a medical report that the emotional impact on her “could be prolonged.”