Teen who head-butted shop owner remanded in custody

TCM - Friday, May 9 03:48 pm

A youth, who head-butted a shop owner a day after he had been released on a suspended sentence, has been remanded in custody.

The 17-year-old pleaded guilty at the Children's Court today to attacking the shop owner, at the Sallynoggin Road, in Sallynoggin, in Dublin, on October 9 last.

Judge Patrick McMahon heard that the man had seen the teenager and other youths interfering with a sign on his shop front.

"He asked them to get away from the sign and took out his phone to call the gardai."

"The accused approached and head-butted him and left the scene."

The court was told the teenager was identified from CCTV footage and already had eight previous convictions for theft, criminal damage, motor theft and Public Order Act offences.

Judge McMahon noted that the south Dublin youth had been given a two-month suspended sentence for threatening behaviour a day before the attack. And in July last year the youth had been given a one-month suspended sentence for a drunk and disorderly charge.

In mitigation the court was told that the youth, who was accompanied by his mother, was taking part in a training course which has led to an improvement in his behaviour.

He had history of self harms incidents and was attending counselling for addiction problems.

He had not come to Garda attention since the offence and had previously served custodial sentences for theft and criminal damage.

"He has difficulties controlling his behaviour particularly at the weekend when his time is not occupied," his solicitor said.

Judge McMahon said that "gives me an answer, I'll remand him in custody over the weekend until Monday."

"There is no way this court will tolerate someone who gets a suspended sentence one day and offends the following day," he said as he remanded the teenager in custody to St Patrick's Institution.

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