Youth who attacked students put on probation

A 17-year-old youth who assaulted two Spanish students, who were punched, kicked and dragged along the ground during an unprovoked attack, was yesterday put on probation for nine months and spared a custodial sentence

The teenager, who is in care, had been convicted at the Children's Court of assaulting the two women, who are in their early 20s, and of stealing a mobile phone on Dublin's quays on October 9th last.

Judge Ann Ryan noted that a positive probation report on the teenager had been furnished to the court. Releasing him, she imposed a nine-month probation bond conditional on him not coming to further Garda attention.

He was ordered to remain under the supervision of the Probation Service and to attend anger management counselling.

His victims had told the court the youth had been with two girls and another boy. A girl punched one of the Spanish women and then the other three joined in the attack.

"The boys took my friend away and threw her on the ground and started kicking her. Then they threw me on the ground and pulled me for about five minutes and began kicking and punching me," one of the Spanish students said in evidence. She also told the court that during the attack her mobile phone was taken.

Judge Ryan said the attack was "an unpleasant experience. They are in this country probably for not a long time. It is not a happy way to leave them in terms of how they perceive us to be".

© 2008 The Irish Times

This article appears in the print edition of the Irish Times