Teenager admits throwing brick at boy who racially insulted his friend

A 15-year-old schoolboy has admitted attacking and injuring a youth in reaction to racist insulting of one his friends.

The teenager pleaded guilty today to assault causing harm to the then 16-year-old boy, in south Dublin, on a date in September 2009. He was aged 13 at the time of the attack.

Detective Garda Kevin Clarke told Judge Clare Leonard at the Dublin Children's Court that a “slagging” row broke out between two groups of youths.

“As a result a fight ensued, the accused picked up a brick from the wall and threw it at the injured party,” he said and added, “resulting in the injured party falling, over the wall, six feet.”

The victim was hospitalised and had to have a plate inserted as a result of suffering a broken cheek bone, the court was told.

Det garda Clarke agreed with the defence counsel that “a racist remark had been made to an African member of the accused's group”.

Counsel said the remark “beginning with N” had been made to the boy's friend and then “things got out of control”.

The court heard that the boy, who has no previous criminal convictions, is in full time education and had strong family support. The detective agreed that the boy had not re-offended, had co-operated with the investigation and his actions were out character.

Judge Leonard noted the contents of medical report on the victim and also noted that the accused had not come to further garda attention.

She remanded the boy, who was accompanied to his case by a family member, on bail to appear again in April to allow time for a pre-sentence probation report on him to be obtained.