Teenager gets life for Urantsetseg Tserendorj's murder after delay over legislation

Mr Justice Hunt said that one of the "terrible realities" of the case is that the defendant will still only be 28 years old when his review comes up and he will potentially be released

Urantsetseg Tserendorj (pictured) was stabbed in the neck on a walkway between George’s Dock and Custom House Quay in the IFSC, Dublin on January 20, 2021, after the teenager attempted to rob her. File picture

The 17-year-old who stabbed Urantsetseg Tserendorj to death has been detained for life with a review after 13 years following government statements that legislation will provide new sentencing structures for juveniles convicted of serious crimes.

The teenager's sentencing had been delayed after the trial judge Mr Justice Tony Hunt noted that there was no provision in legislation to allow judges to suspend any portion of the defendant's sentence. He said the judge reviewing his case after 13 years would therefore be left with an "all or nothing" approach to either release the child without any way to incentivise good behaviour, or keep him in detention indefinitely.