A 16-year-old boy acted as a "look-out" for two other teenagers who have admitted petrol bombing a car with two young children inside, a jury has heard.
The evidence was heard at Limerick Circuit Criminal Court yesterday, where the youth - who cannot be named for legal reasons - pleaded not guilty to intentionally or recklessly causing serious harm to a four- and six-year-old brother and sister last year. The offence is alleged to have taken place at Pineview Gardens, Moyross, Limerick, on September 10th, 2006.
Outlining the case for the jury counsel for the State John O'Sullivan told the court that two 17-year-old youths have already pleaded guilty to the offence.
Mr O'Sullivan said it was the State's case that the 16-year-old was part of a "common design" and that he "knowingly assisted the two other youths in the commission of the offence".
The court heard that the young children suffered significant injuries and permanent disfigurement after a petrol bomb was thrown into the car.
The mother of the two young children had earlier refused to give the accused and another youth a lift to court, the court heard.
The jury was told the mother of the two children was visiting a friend's house in the Pineview Gardens estate in Moyross when she was asked for the lift.
After refusing twice one of the youths shouted abuse at her and went to a nearby shop where he said he was going to "burn her car".
This youth got a large bottle filled with petrol and returned to the scene along with the accused and a third youth.
When the woman returned to her car with her children she turned the key in the ignition and was about to drive away when she saw a flash behind her, the court heard.
The woman turned around and saw her two small children on fire.
She opened the back door pulled her daughter out of the car and somebody else grabbed her son, the court heard.
Mr O'Sullivan said it was the State's case that a petrol bomb was thrown into the back seat of the car in which the children were seated.
He said the prosecution was not claiming that the accused had thrown the bomb but it is alleged that he acted with the two others when they threw it and was part of the "common design".
The jury was told that the 16-year-old was standing on a public road and was in such a position where he acted as a "look-out".
Mr O'Sullivan said it was not the State's case that the accused intended to cause serious harm and that the prosecution accepted he had rendered assistance at the scene but added that this did not "absolve him".
The trial continues today before Judge Carroll Moran and a jury off seven men and five women.