Youth spared jail after bus attack on man with learning difficulties

A youth has been spared a custodial sentence following a grudge gang attack on a man with learning difficulties, who was beaten up on a bus in Dublin.

The then 16-year-old had pleaded guilty earlier to assault causing harm to the man (aged 22), on September 16, 2009, as he was travelling on a bus in north Dublin.

He had agreed to take part in a six-month action plan of restorative justice activities under supervision of the Probation and Welfare Service.

Judge Timothy Lucey today heard that the teenager had completed the tasks in the action plan and he agreed to strike out the case, sparing the defendant a criminal conviction.

The Children's Court had heard that the youth now aged 18, and two others approached the man on the upper deck of a Dublin Bus and attacked him with punches and kicks to his head.

Garda Olive Holden had said the victim, who was known to the accused has learning difficulties, and was “bleeding from his ear and had bruising to the left hand side of his face”.

She had also said the teenager, who has no prior criminal convictions, claimed he had been attacked previously by the victim.

Garda Holden had agreed with defence solicitor Gareth Noble that the victim did not lose consciousness or need to go to hospital.

Mr Noble has submitted that his client was aged 16 at the time, had made admission and had done well in training courses since he left school.