A Dublin man who attacked a 14-year-old Bosnian refugee has been jailed for 27 months. The boy had his cheekbone broken, a black eye and severe bruising when he was set upon by two men, Dublin Circuit Criminal Court has heard.
Judge Michael White said he suspected "sinister motives" behind the assault but hoped his suspicions were not justified.
He imposed the jail term on top of a 16-month car theft sentence being served by William Cooney (22) of St Ronan's Grove, Clondalkin, who pleaded guilty to assaulting the boy on Ballyfermot Road, Dublin, on November 18th, 1997.
Sgt Peter Divilly said the boy had gone with his sister to meet two cousins. Cooney's co-accused, for whom an arrest warrant has been issued, had stopped the boy on the street and punched him, fracturing his cheekbone. Cooney had also punched and kicked the boy repeatedly.