Courts / Dublin / Report
South Dublin schoolboy remanded in custody over hammer attack
Summary
A 17‑year‑old south Dublin schoolboy was remanded in custody while a judge considers his sentence after pleading guilty to assault causing harm. He used his father's hammer to strike a fourth‑year secondary school student on the forehead, fracturing the victim's skull and causing internal bleeding. The incident followed a dispute over a €50 cannabis deal between two teenage groups. The boy, who had never met the victim, claimed he brought the hammer for protection and became angry after a phone call from the other group. The victim, who had to drop from an honours Leaving Cert to a Leaving Cert Applied course, gave a victim impact statement describing the injury's long‑term stress and pain. The boy's defence argued he was remorseful, had a history of drug addiction from age 13, and had enrolled in an addiction centre.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: South Dublin schoolboy remanded in custody over hammer attack. Charges or matters: assault causing harm to his victim – who also can't be named – at Blackrock, Co Dublin on January 25 last year. Procedural stage: sentence
When:
- January 25 Incident
- 2016-05-26 Publication
Why: The boy told gardaí he initially brought the hammer to the meeting "for protection" and because it was "better to be safe than sorry", the court heard. Court evidence reported by CNI
Case subjects
Defendant
Charges: assault causing harm to his victim – who also can't be named – at Blackrock, Co Dublin on January 25 last year (Admitted)
Plea: Guilty
Outcome: The judge said he needed to think about what sentence should be imposed and he remanded the boy in custody until Monday. "I want you to take note of your surroundings over the next two or three days because that may be your future," the judge told the boy.; The judge said he needed to think about what sentence should be imposed and he remanded the boy in custody until Monday. "I want you to take note of your surroundings over the next two or three days because that may be your future," the judge told the boy.
Places mentioned
- Dublin
- Dublin Circuit Criminal Court
Topics
Drugs Stage Sentence Violent Crime
Related court reports
- Man charged with having 56k child abuse images and videos remanded on bail
- Ex-Dáil hopeful's allegations against former employer 'complete fantasy', WRC told
- Mater must pay €10k to worker who said he was wrongly accused of abusing patient
- 'I think we know I won't be getting bail' - Daniel Kinahan charged with directing criminal organisation
- Letting agent who claimed alleged domestic violence victim abandoned tenancy by fleeing to refuge must pay €14.7k
- 77-year-old with 470 convictions told Luas staff to 'f**k off'
If a fact, identity, locality or legal outcome needs review, email the newsroom with this report's details prefilled.
Email a correction request