A judge yesterday deferred his decision on sentencing of an 18-year-old who has been convicted of manslaughter after referring to statements by Jesuit priest Fr Peter McVerry about conditions at St Patrick's Institution.
The teenager had been found guilty of killing a 20-year-old at the Liffey Valley Shopping Centre in September 2005.
The body lay undiscovered for two days in a field beside the shopping centre after a drink-fuelled row, the trial at the Central Criminal Court in Dublin had been told.
However, Mr Justice Philip O'Sullivan adjourned sentencing until December 18th so that a report outlining his expected custodial regime can be prepared.
Referring to recent concerns raised by Fr McVerry on St Patrick's Institution, he said: "I wouldn't want to impose a sentence before knowing what the regime would be."
Kevin Walsh, Allenton Green, Tallaght, Dublin, who was 16 at the time of the killing, had pleaded not guilty to murdering James Burke between September 22nd and 26th, 2005 at the Liffey Valley Shopping Centre, Clondalkin.
Det Sgt Noel Doolin told the court that Walsh, who was expelled from a special needs school at the age of 14, had 32 previous convictions for a range of various offences dating back to December 2004, including driving without a licence, theft and burglary.
The trial was told that Walsh and Mr Burke met for the first time at the Square in Tallaght. Walsh invited Mr Burke to go drinking with himself and his girlfriend. The two left to go to meet the accused's girlfriend in Liffey Valley Shopping Centre.
All three continued "talking and drinking" in a field beside the Marks & Spencer car park and a row broke out some time later. Walsh claimed Mr Burke started arguing with him because he spat alcohol on his hand.
After a short argument, he claimed the dead man pushed him but admitted he threw the first punch. The two were on the ground fighting before Walsh overcame Mr Burke.