Two homeless youths have been sentenced to three years' detention for attacking two men in Co Dublin last year. One victim, who became unconscious when he ran into the sea to escape his attackers, might have been drowned but for vigilant gardai, Dublin Circuit Criminal Court heard.
The second victim was so badly injured and shocked he could not give gardai a statement until the following day. The attacks happened at Seapoint, Co Dublin, last year.
Sentencing the defendants yesterday, Judge Cyril Kelly described the assaults as "the most horrific attacks to come before this court for a long time. I cannot let these cruel attacks go unpunished. That would be intolerable." The judge added he would suspend the balance in a year's time. The defendants pleaded guilty to robbing their victims on November 1st, 1995.