A teenage girl has been spared going on trial for her part in a vicious gang robbery of a Chinese man who was knocked unconscious and had his phone and shoes stolen in Dublin.
The 17-year-old was one of seven young people at Dublin Children’s Court charged with robbery of the man, in his late 20s, on July 10th on Liffey Street.
Judge John O’Connor noted the girl’s charge was being withdrawn by the prosecution to allow her the chance to go through the Garda Juvenile Diversion Programme.
This aims to steer young people away from crime and involves being cautioned, but not having a criminal record.
‘Cocktail of LSD’
A second girl, aged 14, as well as five male youths, are still before the courts. One of them, an 18-year-old who had taken a “cocktail of LSD” at the time of the incident, has pleaded guilty and is awaiting sentence.
Judge O’Connor viewed footage of the attack, which he described as “pure savage”.
CCTV footage showed people swarming around the man. He was repeatedly punched and his shirt ripped off before he was pulled to the ground and kicked all over.
It ended with the victim falling limply on to his back and being kicked again. As he lay motionless his phone and shoes were taken.