Two teenage girls described by a judge as thugs have been detained after they were convicted for violently mugging other teenagers.
The pair had left their frightened victims afraid to go out at night after the terrifying incidents, the Dublin Children's Court was told.
Judge Geoffrey Browne heard that the girls, aged 15 and 16, who are in care, had terrified their victims and left them nervous after they mugged them, in Stillorgan on November 3rd last.
In one of the incidents a young girl was held from behind with an arm across her neck before she was thrown and pinned on the ground by one of her muggers. As she was held down, the second mugger rifled through her pockets and made off with her mobile phone.
"I was terrified, I still am," the victim, who is in her early teens told Judge Browne.
In another incident an hour later one of the two girls had approached a young woman and used force as she tried to rob her handbag. She then slapped the woman across her face.
The witness told Judge Brown, "I was terrified and I am still very nervous now over it." Ms Michelle Finan, defending, said both girls apologise for their actions.
The court was told that the troubled defendants are residing in a residential care unit, but Judge Browne said that irrespective of their backgrounds they must be detained.
He said the pair had acted like thugs and animals and that he had a duty to protect society.
However, Judge Browne said he believed that the girls were sorry because they had been caught and detained them for one month each in Oberstown girls' centre.