Courts / Dublin / Report

Violent teen who initiated Dublin city centre attack on US tourist is sentenced to detention

Date
2025-02-26

Stage
Sentence

Primary locality
Dublin City

County
Dublin

Summary

An unnamed 17-year-old defendant was sentenced to 20 months' detention by Judge Martin Nolan in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for assault causing harm. The teen, who was 16 at the time, pleaded guilty to instigating an unprovoked attack on US tourist Stephen Termini in July 2023, which left the victim with serious brain injuries. Judge Nolan noted the defendant's nine previous convictions, including for assault causing harm and violent disorder, stating he had not taken prior chances to change. Although defence counsel Conor Devally SC requested a sentence with a suspended element to support rehabilitation, the judge reluctantly imposed custody, citing a total lack of insight. Two other boys involved in the attack, who pleaded guilty to assault causing serious harm and violent disorder, were previously sentenced to 32 and 26 months' detention respectively. The victim, who has since changed his surname to Donnelly, suffered ongoing health issues including PTSD and requires a cane to walk. He stated he forgives the boys but seeks help covering his €103,000 in medical costs.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Violent teen who initiated Dublin city centre attack on US tourist is sentenced to detention. Charges or matters: assault causing harm earlier this month and was today before Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for sentencing; assault causing serious harm and violent disorder. Procedural stage: sentence

When:

July 19, 2023 Incident
2025-02-26 Publication

Case subjects

Unnamed 17-year-old

Defendant

Charges: assault causing harm earlier this month and was today before Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for sentencing; assault causing serious harm and violent disorder (Admitted)

Plea: Guilty

Outcome: Judge Nolan previously imposed a 32-month period of detention on the second boy involved in the attack last July and handed a 26-month period of detention to the third boy last October. Mr Devally asked the court to consider imposing a sentence which included a suspended element to help his client continue on this path towards rehabilitation, adding that a "tight rein that would encourage and deter anything of backward step".