Youngest of three boys accused of Stephen Termini attack warned about breaking bail

Stephen Termini had been in a coma in Dublin's Beaumont Hospital before he was discharged in August and has since returned to America. File picture: Michael Rizzuto/GoFundMe

A judge has remanded three teenage boys accused of attacking US tourist Stephen Termini, who was severely injured in Dublin in July, on continuing bail pending directions from the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP).

The trio, aged 14, 15 and 16, who cannot be named because they are minors, all appeared again at the Dublin Children's Court on Thursday. The youngest of the group had to be given a firm warning that he risked being detained after it emerged there were garda concerns about him breaching strict bail terms.

Mr Termini, 57, from Buffalo, New York, was rushed to hospital after an incident on the corner of Store Street and Talbot Street in the north inner city on July 9. The artist and musician had been in a coma in Dublin's Beaumont Hospital before he was discharged in August and has since returned to America.

In July, gardaí charged the three boys with assault causing harm to Mr Termini, and the court granted bail with strict conditions.

On Thursday, they appeared separately before Judge Paul Kelly Detective Sergeant John Brady requested an eight-week adjournment; the defence barristers, Doireann McDonagh and Roisin O'Mara, confirmed their clients agreed. Judge Kelly, the District Court President, ordered them to appear again on November 30 for the DPP directions to be given.

Detective Sergeant Brady informed Judge Kelly that there were "issues" about the youngest boy's bail conditions and added that there were four breaches already. He did not apply for his bail to be revoked but wanted it noted by the court.

Ms O'Mara said she had spoken to the boy, and he "understands the consequences of his actions going forward". Judge Kelly told counsel to explain to the boy: "If I am satisfied of any breach, my tendency is to revoke bail; just be very clear of that."

When asked if he understood, the boy said "yes" and left with his parents. The bail terms include curfews, being contactable 24 hours a day by phone, and not associating or communicating with each other. They have also been ordered to stay off Talbot Street, Railway Street and James Joyce Street.

A decision has yet to be made as to whether the case will remain in the Children's Court or go forward to the Circuit Court, which has broader sentencing powers. They have yet to indicate how they will plead.

At their previous hearing on July 27, one of the investigating officers, Detective Sergeant Noone, said: "This incident involves CCTV where youths were hanging around Railway Street, and it emanated from there; we are concerned that it could go back to that situation, and we want to avoid that."