Teenager attacked innocent man (52) over 'suspicious' Facebook message, court hears
Tom Tuite
A 17-year-old boy is to face the Circuit Court over an attack on a man who was wrongly beaten up in his own home in Dublin over a "suspicious" Facebook message.
The boy, who cannot be named because he's a minor, appeared at the Dublin Children's Court on Monday, charged with aggravated burglary.
He was accused of entering the north Dublin house as a trespasser to commit assault causing harm to the resident (52) on a date in September last year.
Detective Garda Nicholas Duane outlined the allegations, telling Judge Brendan Toale that a van carrying two men and the teenager pulled up outside the complainant's address.
One of the men first went to the house and spoke to the resident, then returned toward the van, at which point the teenager approached with the other adult male.
There was another exchange, and they walked away before turning.
The court heard the teenager ran at the man, swung a punch at him, knocking him to the ground just inside his door, which was followed by multiple kicks and punches.
He suffered bruising to his head, neck and upper body but did not require hospital treatment, but took painkillers after a visit to his GP.
CCTV footage was viewed in court.
The judge noted that the complainant did not require hospital treatment but had suffered injuries to his upper body, head and neck.
The preliminary hearing was told that the incident stemmed from a Facebook message response to the accused's sister.
She had posted an advert for babysitting, and the accused found the message suspicious and went to the address provided, using the Eircode.
Detective Garda Duane was satisfied that the complaint was "completely innocent" and had nothing to do with the earlier social media message.
Cecilia Ní Choileáin BL, defending, submitted that the youth was less mature than the two other adults involved.
She added that he would plead guilty if the Children's Court accepted jurisdiction and that it was the appropriate venue to hear the case.
After viewing the CCTV footage, the judge said he had considered the intensity of the assault on the man.
The court heard that the boy made admissions upon arrest and expressed remorse.
The judge held that the case should be sent forward to the Circuit Court, which has wider sentencing powers.
The boy, who was accompanied to the court by his parents, was remanded on continuing bail to appear again in June to have a book of evidence served on him.
He cannot be named because he is a minor.
