Guilty plea entered following violent incident in Limerick village

A TEENAGER punching a youth in the head and kicking him on the ground in a popular park was “particularly nasty”, Newcastle West Court heard.

At a previous court sitting, Garda Rob Sheedy said that on March 30, 2020, a young man was asked to buy alcohol by a group of four youths at the entrance to the supermarket in Croom and when he refused, he was verbally abused.

The injured party then went with his brother and a friend to Croom Town Park. CCTV showed he was followed by the four who then approached them as they sat on a bench.

Teenager 1 asked the victim why he had refused to buy alcohol for them but before he could answer, Teenager 1 knocked him to the ground. “He was set upon by the four,” said the garda.

The four, who were charged with violent disorder, cannot be named for legal reasons because they were all under 18 when the incident took place.

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Teenager 1 was before Judge Carol Anne Coolican. He pleaded guilty to one count of violent disorder.

His solicitor, Michael O’Donnell said it was a “particularly nasty event”. As his client was 17 at the time, Mr O’Donnell asked the judge to deal with him as a juvenile.

Judge Coolican asked Inspector Oliver Nally, prosecuting for the State, what sentences the other three defendants had received, and if there was a victim impact statement.

“They obtained suspended sentences. He (Teenager 1) was the main aggressor. There was no victim impact statement,” said Insp Nally.

In sentencing the accused, Judge Coolican said she noted the guilty plea.

“He (victim) was asked by a number of youths to buy alcohol, they were verbally abusive and confronted him. This particular accused punched him in the head and kicked him on the ground,” said Judge Coolican.

The judge imposed a six month prison sentence which was suspended in full in view of his youth.