Courts / Dublin / Report

Jail for teen who threw stone at boy's head in "homophobic" attack

Date
2019-02-15
Stage
Sentence
Primary locality
Dublin
County
Dublin

Summary

In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, an 18‑year‑old teenager was sentenced to three years' imprisonment for assault causing harm after he threw a stone at a fellow teen's head during an incident on 17 July 2016. The victim, a young actor, sustained a permanent facial scar above his right eye, requiring 11 stitches, and has since lost acting opportunities in Belgium because of the injury. The judge described the assault as "extremely nasty" with "undertones of homophobia," noting that the accused denied the homophobic aspect but the victim heard slurs such as "a fag." The sentence was suspended for two years, with the first year to be served, citing the defendant's remorse and the fact that he was 15 at the time of the offence. The court highlighted the defendant's unstable upbringing, multiple prior convictions, and ongoing issues with cannabis and ADHD. The unnamed 18-year-old pleaded guilty.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Jail for teen who threw stone at boy's head in "homophobic" attack. Charges or matters: assault causing harm in a Dublin suburb on July 17, 2016. Procedural stage: sentence

When:

Why: The court heard that the victim had lost out on an acting opportunity in Belgium because of his scar. Court evidence reported by CNI

Case subjects

Unnamed 18-year-old

Accused

Charges: assault causing harm in a Dublin suburb on July 17, 2016 (Admitted)

Plea: Guilty

Outcome: By Sonya McLean and Jessica Magee A teenager who threw a stone at another teen's head in what the victim perceived as a homophobic attack has been jailed for one year. The judge sentenced the youth to three years in prison but suspended the final two years, giving credit for the fact that he had expressed remorse and was aged 15 when he committed the offence.; The court heard that the case was repeatedly adjourned last year after the youth went missing from his care home 20 times over a three-month period.

Places mentioned

Incident
Court Venue
  • Dublin
  • Dublin Circuit Criminal Court
Facility
  • Mountjoy
  • Mountjoy Prison
  • Wheatfield Prison

Topics

Drugs Stage Sentence Violent Crime

Related court reports

Read the original CNI report

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