THREE DUBLIN teenagers who systematically punched, kicked and kneed a second-year university student on the ground were jailed at Wicklow Circuit Criminal court in Bray yesterday.
All three now aged 18 years, Gavin Ryan, Shanganagh Road, Shankill; Gene Barry, Achill Road, Ballybrack and Daniel Breen, Loughlinstown Woods, pleaded guilty to robbing David Bernard of his wallet and €150 and his mobile phone at Killarney Road, Bray, on October 15th, 2007.
The court heard that as David Bernard was walking up Killarney Road at 11.10pm one of the youths jumped him, wrapping his arm around the victim’s neck, saying he was going to pull him into a garden and “f***ing murder him”.
Judge Michael O’Shea said that there were four or five youths around David Bernard as he was on the ground.
They kicked and punched him in the face and knocked his head against a wall. David Bernard was shielding his face as they kicked, punched and kneed him. Mr Bernard suffered multiple bruises to his face and body.
In response to the defence case, Judge O’Shea said that he was satisfied there was no peer pressure on any of the accused and they all knew what they were doing when they participated in this robbery.
“David Bernard was a vulnerable and isolated young man on the night and he was chased and hunted down by this gang. He was systematically kicked, punched in the face and banged off a wall.
“I have no doubt in my mind that the defendants knew what they were doing; their intention was to rob this man by whatever means.” He sentenced Gene Barry and Gavin Ryan to three years’ detention for the robbery, while Daniel Breen, who was only 16 at the time, was sentenced to two years’ detention.