A 16-year-old youth who went on trial for causing serious harm to two young Limerick children who were left permanently disfigured after their car was petrol bombed, changed his plea yesterday.
The teenager - who cannot be named for legal reasons - had pleaded not guilty at Limerick Circuit Court to two charges of recklessly or intentionally causing serious harm to the brother and sister on September 10th last year at Pineview Gardens, Moyross, Limerick.
On the second day of the trial yesterday he pleaded guilty to two lesser charges of intentionally or recklessly engaging in conduct which created a substantial risk of death or serious harm to the children, who were then aged four and six .
At the opening of the trial, the jury was told two 17-year-old youths due in court next week had already pleaded guilty to the more serious charges.
John O'Sullivan SC said it was the State's case that the 16-year- old acted as a "look-out" for the two other youths when a petrol bomb was thrown into the back of a car in which the children were sitting. He said the attack took place after the children's mother had refused to give the accused and another youth a lift to court.
The court heard that the young victims suffered significant injuries in the attack and have been left permanently disfigured.
Before dismissing the jury which had been sworn in, Judge Carroll Moran yesterday said the medical evidence in the case would have been harrowing and the jurors had been spared that. He thanked them for their willingness to participate in what would have been a "very difficult case".
He directed that a probation report be carried out on the youth as required under the Children's Act and adjourned sentencing until July 23rd. He pointed out there was an "absolute prohibition" on revealing the identity or addresses of the two children.