Attack accused bailed after detention centre refuses to take him

A 15-year-old boy who kicked a Chinese man's head “like it was a football,” during a gang attack in Dublin, was granted bail today because a juvenile detention centre would not take him.

“I can do nothing, I've no where to put him,” Judge Eamon O'Brien said at the Dublin Children's Court after hearing a detention centre could not take the boy because one of his relatives is also on remand there.

The Dublin schoolboy has pleaded guilty to assault causing harm at Sean McDermott Street, on May 31 last. He was remanded to appear again next week.

Gardaí had asked for a remand in custody because he had picked up a new charge for stealing a bicycle, was arrested on two other occasions and broke bail conditions which included a curfew.

The boy's barrister Karen Dowling said the teen was willing to go into custody on remand to Oberstown Boys' Centre, in north Dublin. She said he had “difficulties” that needed to be addressed and wanted to be held in the centre which also carries out psychological and behavioural assessments.

However, the detention centre would not take him because one of his relatives was already there.

“Yeah my sister's young fellah,” the boy's mother told the judge..

Earlier, Garda Cian Farrelly had said that the victim was knocked to the ground and the boy with two others started to kick and punch him. They “stamped” on his body and head, the court has heard.

At one point as his two accomplices were kicking the victim, the boy leaned into him and punched him in the face. The victim was left with cuts and marks to his face, back and hands.

Garda Farrelly described the attack as “absolutely brutal” and the worst he had ever seen.

He had also said that the boy kicked the man in the head “like it was a football” and “showed no remorse.”

The teen, who has no prior convictions, has also admitted two counts of trespassing at underground car parks in north inner city Dublin and interference with one vehicle parked there, which happened a day before the attack.