Courts / Ireland / Report
Teen who tried to murder woman he met on dating app gets 11-year sentence
2019-11-04
Sentence
Summary
A 17‑year‑old boy was sentenced to 11 years' imprisonment for attempting to murder Stephanie Ng, a 25‑year‑old woman he met on the Whisper dating app. The boy lured Ng to an isolated spot at Sea Front, Queen's Road, Dun Laoghaire, where he strangled her until she was unconscious and then slashed her neck with a knife, leaving her for dead. Mr Justice Michael White described the attack as pre‑meditated and cold‑calculated, noting that the boy's contact with Ng on social media was intended to cause harm. The victim, who described herself as a gentle person, suffered nightmares, flash‑backs and a loss of trust. The judge cited the boy's early guilty plea, good character, lack of prior convictions, immaturity, and mental illness as mitigating factors, and noted a review of the sentence would begin on 1 January 2023. The boy was first taken into custody on 26 December 2017.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Teen who tried to murder woman he met on dating app gets 11-year sentence. Charges or matters: attempting to murder Stephanie Ng on 23rd December 2017 at Sea Front, Queen's Road, Dun Laoghaire. Procedural stage: sentence
When:
- December 2017 Other
- January 1, 2023 Other
- December 26, 2017 Other
- 23rd December 2017 Other
- 2019-11-04 Publication
Why: The 17-year-old, who cannot be named because he is a minor, has been in custody since December 2017 when he lured Stephanie Ng to an isolated area at the Sea Front, Queen's Road, Dun Laoghaire. CNI source report
Case subjects
Defendant
Charges: attempting to murder Stephanie Ng on 23rd December 2017 at Sea Front, Queen's Road, Dun Laoghaire (Admitted)
Plea: Guilty
Outcome: Mr Justice White said the headline sentence for such a serious crime would be life imprisonment but taking into account all the factors, including the boy's age and mental health issues, he sentenced him to 11 years with a review to commence on January 1, 2023.
Places mentioned
- Queen's Road
- Central Mental Hospital
Topics
Social Media Stage Sentence Violent Crime
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