Teen guilty of gang attack on Finnish tourist

A youth repeatedly “smashed” a can into the face of a 16-year-old Finnish tourist during a vicious gang attack in Dublin, a court has heard.

The 17-year-old pleaded guilty to assault causing harm to the boy on July 18 last year at Joyce's Walk, in Dublin 1.

Garda Colin Hampson told Judge Clare Leonard at the Dublin Children's Court that the youth and three other males set on the boy.

The youth had a cider can which he “smashed into his face three times”. He also added that the youth punched and kicked the victim during the unprovoked attack.

In court, the teen denied kicking the Finnish boy. “I hit him with the can I did, in the face,” he admitted.

However, he did not reply when Gda Hampson said CCTV footage of the attack was available.

The teen's victim suffered cuts to his face and needed stitches, Judge Leonard heard.

The teen said he was drunk at the time of the incident and the court heard that he had been abusing a formerly legal drug known as “snow-blow.” He had been placed on probation for other offences in July but since then 17 new charges have been brought against him.

Judge Leonard said “buckets” of services have been made available to the youth who stopped going to drug abuse counselling claiming “that doesn't do anything for me”.

The defendant's father said he did not understand what was wrong with his son. He said he sought help for the youth but “he just does not care”.

“There is nothing wrong at home, what else can it be? I do not know. I have done everything, I've contacted gardaí, social service, the lot,” the father said.

“I've done everything I could have done, I don't want to be in the courts every day,” he added.

Judge Leonard adjourned sentencing the youth, who is on bail, until a date next month. She also asked the HSE to be represented at the case when it resumes.

As conditions of bail the teen must obey a 9pm to 8am curfew, attend addiction counselling, remain sober and not associate with six of his friends.

His three alleged accomplices are to face trial in January for assaulting the Finnish boy.