A teenager who knocked a 63- year-old man from his bicycle, then viciously beat him, leaving him permanently scarred, has had his sentencing adjourned at the Dublin Children's Court.
The 17-year-old youth, who cannot be named because he is a juvenile, had pleaded guilty to assault causing harm to the man, in Artane, Dublin, in August 2006.
He has admitted criminal damage, production of a broken glass as weapon during the course of dispute, drunk and disorderly behaviour and breach of the peace at a pub in north Dublin city in March. He has also admitted criminally damaging a petrol station and driving illegally.
Judge Gerard Haughton yesterday adjourned sentencing the youth, who is on bail, until next month. He acceded to a request from his barrister for the court to seek an updated probation report since his circumstances had changed with him having found full-time employment.
The Probation Services had described the youth as a low-risk reoffender but said he needed to address his alcohol problem.
The victim had been cycling home when he was attacked by youths who had been binge drinking. Garda Kevin Gaynor of Clontarf station told the court that "youths knocked him off his bicycle and assaulted him. The injured party suffered cuts to his left eye, cheek and knuckles". He also suffered a fractured eye socket.
"I am in shock over what happened when I was coming home minding my own business," the victim had told the court. He now suffered from agonising cramps in his hand and was on medication. His face had been left scarred.
The barrister said his client had been mostly reared by his grandparents but had taken to alcohol after his grandmother's death a few years ago.
"His father has been in prison most of the last 25 years," he said, adding that he started to get into trouble through alcohol abuse.
The court had heard that the youth, who was about to become a father, was attending Alcoholics Anonymous meetings and had a good work history.
The youth, who was accompanied by his father, has eight convictions going back to late 2003 for public order, theft, assault and criminal damage offences. He had paid €300 to court as compensation, but the victim asked that the money be donated to the Irish Cancer Society instead.