Teen boys viciously assaulted lone man on streets of Waterford town
The teens appeared at an in camera hearing.
Two teenage boys punched and kicked a man repeatedly on the streets of Dungarvan. The boys, who cannot be named for legal reasons, appeared at Waterford Circuit Court for an in camera hearing.
On a night in early February 2024, Gardaí on patrol in Dungarvan were flagged down on Davitt’s Quay and observed a man lying on the ground, covered in blood. Officers understood that he had been set upon by "two young people" outside The Anchor Bar.
Gardaí used CCTV to identify and arrest one of the teens. The victim was on his way home from a bar when he was attacked and woke up in hospital.
The younger of the teens later told Gardaí that he wasn’t drinking but had consumed "three trays of Tramax tablets". Tramax is a painkiller drug usually prescribed for heavy menstrual bleeding. He said: “After tablets I’m like a marshmallow.”
The older boy claimed to Gardaí that he had acted in self-defence because the victim had said "something about a girl" and started pushing him. The boy said: “It was self-defence, check CCTV.”
The court heard that the boy was "twisted drunk" after drinking Huzzah vodka and couldn’t remember all the details from the night.
One defendant offered €2,000 in compensation for the injured party.
In sentencing, Judge Eugene O’Kelly cited Section 135 of the Children’s Act. The Judge said: “The Court must hold out prison as a last resort. This was a very vicious assault, the victim was dragged to the ground and kicked repeatedly. It lasted two to three minutes."
The older teen, who is now of majority, was given one year in prison. The younger teen will be under an "intensive supervision" period for six months.
