'Gross stupidity' - Local teens shot pellets at young girls
The teens appeared at Waterford Circuit Court.
Two Waterford teens shot pellets at unsuspecting girls while driving a vehicle throughout the city.
Ian White, of Laurel Park, Cherrymount, and Joey Aylward, of Shanoon, Convent Road, Dunmore East, pleaded guilty to Section 3 assault at Waterford Circuit Court before Judge Eugene O'Kelly.
The defendants, both aged 19, had been held in custody for several weeks prior to their sentencing.
The court had previously heard that on June 3, 2024, the pair had been driving a vehicle in John's Park and Manor Street, Waterford City. The pair were shooting pellets from a replica gun. Two young girls in their teens were injured by the attacks.
Defence counsels Paul W. Hutchinson BL, appearing for White, and Gareth Hayden BL, representing Aylward, informed the court that their clients had raised €8,000 total in compensation for their victims. Mr Hutchinson and Mr Hayden referred to the "anxiety and distress" that their clients had experienced whilst in custody.
Mr Hayden referred to his client's cannabis use at the time of the offence and how he had resolved to "not come back before the court" after this interaction with the law.
A charge relating to the use of an "imitation firearm" in a public place was taken into consideration.
Mr Hutchinson said of his client: "He is extremely shaken by his time in custody. Spending a couple of weeks in custody, he is eager to get out."
He referred to this time in custody as a "short sharp shock".
Mr Hutchinson referred to his own client's letters of reference from his employer.
Judge O'Kelly commented that it was a "shocking" case and the factors were aggravating for "two young men to fire into a group of people, one egging the other on".
He said: "Anyone could have been hit."
Judge O'Kelly noted that White and Aylward specifically targeted one young teenage girl, following her with the vehicle before shooting and hitting her a second time.
It was heard in court that the defendants filmed their offences but did not share the footage on social media.
Judge O'Kelly said: "These girls were terrified by these attacks."
Judge O'Kelly said that due to the defendants' "gross stupidity and extreme immaturity" he had to place their punishments on the "upper end of the low scale".
Aylward and White were given a sentence of three years, with one year and three months reduced due to mitigation.
Judge O'Kelly thusly suspended 18 months from their remaining sentences in recognition of their "pro-social families" and having "learned a serious lesson" whilst in custody.
Judge O'Kelly briefly considered disqualifying Aylward from driving, but opted not to over concerns over his "job prospects".
The men will be subject to 18 months of "good behaviour" post release.
