Three schoolboys charged with Halloween night assault that left 14-year-old in hospital

The court heard that one boy replied 'I’m awful sorry' after he was cautioned

The 14-year-old boy was initially taken to Sligo University Hospital with serious injuries. Picture: Google Maps

A 15-year-old boy said “I’m awful sorry” after he was charged over an assault in Sligo on Halloween night which left a 14-year-old boy seriously injured in hospital.

He was among three male juveniles brought before a special sitting of Sligo District Children’s Court on Thursday in connection with the assault on two teenage boys which happened around 7.10pm on October 31 outside a service station in the town.

The 14-year-old boy was initially taken to Sligo University Hospital with serious injuries and later transferred to Beaumont Hospital in Dublin for treatment.

Detective Garda Conor Jordan told Judge Brendan O’Reilly that he arrested the first boy, aged 15, at Sligo Garda Station at 2.53pm on Wednesday, November 1, in the presence of his mother. He was formally charged in the presence of his grandmother at 11.07pm with assaulting a boy at Applegreen service station on Mail Coach Road contrary to Section 3 of the Non-Fatal Offences against the Person Act 1997, causing him harm.

Det. Gda Jordan told the court that the boy replied “I’m awful sorry” after he was cautioned.

Defence solicitor for all three youths, Mr Gerard McGovern, asked Det. Gda Jordan to confirm his client went to the garda station. “He was contacted and came in,” agreed Gda Jordan.

Sergeant Fergal Flynn gave evidence of arresting the second youth, aged 13 years, in the presence of his mother on Pearse Road, Sligo at 5.27pm on Wednesday, November 1. He was detained at Sligo Garda Station and charged at 12.30am on Thursday with assaulting a second teenage boy in the same incident, contrary to Section 2 of the Non-Fatal Offences against the Person Act 1997. He was also charged with a Section 6 Public Order offence of using threatening and abusive behaviour.

The boy made no reply when charged and cautioned. Sgt Flynn added that “there may be a possibility of further charges” against the 13-year-old.

Garda Eamon McDonnell gave evidence of arresting the third youth, aged 15 years, at 4.05pm at an address in Sligo town. He brought him to Sligo Garda Station where he was charged and cautioned with the same two alleged offences as the 13-year-old at 12.14am on Thursday.

He also made no reply to each charge.

“What we have here is an alleged joint enterprise?” asked Judge O’Reilly. Mr McGovern said it was. The court heard the three youths are all in second and third year at secondary school together.

Bail

Mr McGovern made an application for bail and there was no Garda objection.

All three boys were remanded on bail on the following conditions: €100 own bail, an independent surety of €500 each, that they be of good behaviour and not commit any offence, that they reside at addresses given to the court, obey a 7pm-7am curfew and be available for inspection, that they do not associate with each of the co-accused after school hours, that they have no contact directly or indirectly with the alleged injured parties or interfere with any potential witnesses through social media, that their parent’s phone number be given to gardaí and they remain contactable at all times.

They were remanded on bail to appear at Sligo District Court on January 18 for directions from the Director of Public Prosecutions.

Judge O’Reilly warned that their bail conditions were to be “strictly adhered to, 100%.”