Teens face trial over gang's alleged crime spree.

Two 16-year-old boys are to face jury trial in a Circuit Court for allegedly being part of an “out of control” gang of youths who continuously kicked and punched a man to his head during a robbery.

At the Children's Court today, the teens faced charges of robbery, assault causing harm, theft and criminal damage arising out of a series of incidents, near the North Circular Road, in Dublin, on January 3 last.

Outlining the prosecution's allegations, Garda Stephen Faulkner, told Judge Bryan Smyth that during the first incident, a man had tried to avoid an intimidating and aggressive group including the boys and two other youths, aged 18 and 19, one of whom had a crutch. The two older defendants are facing separate prosecutions in the adult courts.

The man had been listening to his MP3 player which he then turned off “to be more aware.” The group shouted at him and the youth with the crutch “struck him to the back of his head” causing him to fall to the ground.

Garda Faulkner told Judge Smyth that it was alleged that all four, including the two defendants, “kicked and punched him a number of times.” The man, who allegedly had his Ipod stolen, was taken to hospital with facial wounds but does not have any long term injuries, the court heard.

Judge Smyth heard it was alleged the group stole €84 worth of cider from a shop on Manor Street the same date, and also damaged a car. One of the 16-year-old boys allegedly punched another man in the face, bursting his lip, when he refused to give them a cigarette.

Garda Faulkner said the group had acted in “unison” and all of them were “out of control.”

Judge Smyth noted submissions from the boy's lawyers who pleaded for the case not to be sent to the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, which has wider sentencing powers than the Children's Court.

The court heard that they were aged 15 at the time and one of them had been drunk.

However, Judge Smyth refused jurisdiction and remanded the pair, who were accompanied to their case by their mothers,on bail to appear again in January. They will then be served with a book of evidence and sent forward for trial.