Teen to face trial for attack which left boy with amnesia

A 15-year-old boy is to face Circuit Court trial for attacking another teenager who suffered memory loss after he was held against his will for 20 minutes at knife-point.

The complainant, a boy also aged 15, was concussed and left with amnesia after the alleged incident, at Seapoint beach, in Blackrock, in south Dublin, on May 16 last year, the Children's Court heard today.

The defendant is accused of assault causing harm and possessing a knife as a weapon on the same date.

In an outline of the evidence, Garda Dermot Haugh alleged the teenage accused was with a group of seven males and took out a “butterfly” knife, eight inches in length.

The victim and two other children had been walking along the beach and fled when they saw the teen with the knife.

Garda Haugh alleged that another youth took the knife from the accused and chased the victim.

“During the course of the next 15 to 20 minutes, the 15-year-old injured party was held, there are allegations of false imprisonment against the co-accused,” said Garda Haugh.

An 18-year-old youth charged with false imprisonment of the boy is facing court separately.

Garda Haugh alleged that the boy and the co-accused then punched the victim to the face. He added that the boy suffered bruising, concussion and memory loss “as a result of a blow to the face.”

The court heard that the victim could only remember events before and after the attack.

The garda agreed with defence solicitor that an older youth was facing more serious charges and that her client was not accused of threatening the boy with the knife.

He also added that it could not be determined whose punch had resulted in the victim suffering memory loss.

Ms Finan asked the judge to accept jurisdiction for the juvenile court to deal with the case. She submitted that her client, who was accompanied to his case by his mother, had no history of offending or previous criminal convictions, and also had learning difficulties.

However, Judge Ann Ryan held that the case was too serious to be heard in the Children's Court.

She refused jurisdiction and held that it should be sent to the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.

The teenager, who cannot be named because he is a minor, was remanded on bail to appear again in April when he is to be served with a book of evidence and returned for trial.