Teenager charged with ‘gratuitous’ attacks on tourists in Temple Bar has bail revoked

A teenager charged over “gratuitous” attacks on English tourists in Dublin’s Temple Bar has had his bail revoked and been remanded in custody.

The 16-year-old accused, who cannot be identified because he is a minor, had been charged with assault causing harm to two men and the robbery of a third at Fownes Street on August 11th. A judge last week released him on conditons including that he stay out of Dublin 2.

The north Dublin teenager appeared at Dublin Children’s Court on Monday, where Judge Alan Mitchell noted that gardaí had to prepare a file for the Director of Public Prosecutions for directions to be obtained.

Garda Derek Brierton and the teenager’s case manager, Sgt Tom Murphy, gave an update about the boy’s compliance with his bail terms.

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Sgt Murphy said the conditions were imposed because the attack was gratuitous, but the teenager had broken these. He said them accused was spotted in Temple Bar “in disguise” while fans gathered for the Notre Dame-Navy American football game last weekend.

Garda Brierton alleged that the boy ran when he was observed near Fownes Street and “in the process of running knocked over an elderly lady” and then ran into a Garda Inspector who suffered a dislocated shoulder and will be off work for six weeks.

The defence accepted that the accused had been in Temple Bar. Solicitor Luke Staines said his client claimed he was taking a shortcut to a gym. However, the court heard he could have used another route. Mr Staines pleaded for the teenager, accompanied to court by his father, to be given a “last chance saloon” opportunity to adhere to the bail conditions.

Judge Mitchell revoked bail and remanded the teenager in custody to the Oberstown Childrens’ Detention Campus pending his next hearing on Friday

An earlier bail hearing was told the initial incident was “caught on excellent quality CCTV” and that the victims were taken to hospital but have since returned to the UK.

Garda Ruth Finnegan alleged that a man’s necklace and a wallet containing €30 were taken. The court heard claims that the tourist was dragged down and kicked on the ground by the accused while another person went through his pockets and took his property.

A second man received a punch in the face before being knocked to the ground, where he was allegedly “punched numerous times and kicked to the head”.

Garda Finnegan said a third victim received a punch in the face and was knocked to the ground, where he had his “head stamped on, while he appeared unconscious”.

A fourth man received multiple blows and was kicked twice in the face on the ground, but the teenage defendant was not charged over that part of the incident.