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'Definition of cowardice': teen jailed for 'frenzied' unprovoked attack on Luas
Summary
A 17-year-old male was sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court after pleading guilty to one count of assault causing harm on January 17, 2023, and one count of production of an article, a vice grip, during a dispute on December 5, 2022. Judge Elma Sheahan described the unprovoked attacks on two victims, including one on the Luas, as "disturbing" and "appalling," noting the defendant's significant role and use of the vice grip in a "frenzied manner." While the judge initially intended to impose a global period of detention of 34 months, with the final six months suspended under Probation Service supervision, she determined this order was not enforceable under the Children's Act. Consequently, she imposed a sentence of 28 months in detention, with the teenager required to liaise with relevant services during this period. The court considered mitigating factors, including the defendant's lack of previous convictions, age, expressions of remorse, and family support, alongside aggravating factors such as the level of violence and the unprovoked, repeated nature of the offending.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: 'Definition of cowardice': teen jailed for 'frenzied' unprovoked attack on Luas. Charges or matters: one count of assault causing harm on January 17, 2023. Procedural stage: sentence
When:
- December 5, 2022 Incident
- January 17, 2023 Incident
- 2024-01-22 Publication
Why: The 17-year-old, who cannot be named because he is a child, was sent forward to Dublin Circuit Criminal Court on signed pleas from the District Court after pleading guilty to one count of assault causing harm and one count of production of an article – a vice grip – during the course of a dispute on December 5, 2022. CNI source report
Case subjects
Defendant
Charges: one count of assault causing harm on January 17, 2023 (Admitted)
Plea: Guilty
Outcome: She initially said the court intended to impose a global period of detention of 34 months, with the final six months suspended during which the accused would be placed under the supervision of the Probation Service. Instead, she imposed 28 months in detention, with the teenager to liaise with relevant services during this period.
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