Courts / Cork / Report

Teen who committed violent disorder at Cameron Blair murder scene now a 'pariah', court told

Date
2021-07-12

Stage
Sentence

Primary locality
Bandon

County
Cork

Summary

A 16‑year‑old boy, who was 14 at the time of the incident, was charged with violent disorder and the production of a knife outside a house party where 20‑year‑old Cameron Blair was murdered. The Central Criminal Court heard that the boy, who cannot be named, has become a "pariah" in his community and that his family have had to move homes to keep him out of trouble. He pleaded not guilty to producing a knife but pleaded guilty to violent disorder. The Director of Public Prosecutions decided not to pursue the knife charge, entering a nolle prosequi. The court heard that the boy was in possession of a butter knife and had punched a girl during the altercation. The case is still pending sentencing.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Teen who committed violent disorder at Cameron Blair murder scene now a 'pariah', court told. Charges or matters: producing an article capable of inflicting serious injury in the course of a dispute, to wit a knife, in a manner likely to unlawfully intimidate another person; committing violent disorder with two other persons present together, using or threatening to use unlawful violence, and such conduct taken together would cause a person of reasonable firmness present at Bandon Road in Cork city to fear for his or another person's safety at the said place on the same occasion; his murder; violent disorder and to the production of a knife. Procedural stage: sentence

When:

May 28 Hearing Or Sentence
January 16, 2020 Incident
April 2020 Other
Thursday January 16 Hearing Or Sentence
2021-07-12 Publication

Why: The court also heard during today's sentence hearing that the incident has had a "monumental effect" on the now 16-year-old accused, who cannot be named because he is a minor, and his family have had to "swap" homes with the boy's grandparents "to keep him out of trouble". CNI source report

Case subjects

Unnamed 16-year-old

Accused

Charges: producing an article capable of inflicting serious injury in the course of a dispute, to wit a knife, in a manner likely to unlawfully intimidate another person; committing violent disorder with two other persons present together, using or threatening to use unlawful violence, and such conduct taken together would cause a person of reasonable firmness present at Bandon Road in Cork city to fear for his or another person's safety at the said place on the same occasion; his murder; violent disorder and to the production of a knife (Alleged Or Contested)

Plea: Not guilty

Outcome: The court also heard during today's sentence hearing that the incident has had a "monumental effect" on the now 16-year-old accused, who cannot be named because he is a minor, and his family have had to "swap" homes with the boy's grandparents "to keep him out of trouble".; Mr Justice Keane remanded the defendant on continuing bail until Friday, when the case will be mentioned in order to finalise a date for sentence.