A TEENAGER who is due to face trial for sexual assault was attacked in Wheatfield Prison last week.
The 18-year-old appeared in custody before Tallaght District Court with a large cut from his right ear to his chin.
The teenager was before Judge James McDonnell as he had failed to comply with a probation order.
His solicitor, Michael Hennessy, asked the judge to clear the court due to the nature of the matter.
Judge McDonnell ordered that all members of the public be removed from the court save the teenager’s mother and her sister.
A probation officer told the court that the teenager had called into the Tallaght Probation Office with his aunt in August but had missed three appointments since.
Mr Hennessy said his client had been attacked in Wheatfield Prison the night before.
He added: “He has got 18 stitches. He is on protection in Wheatfield.”
He said the teenager was due to go on trial for a sexual offence later in the year.
He said his client had not met with the Probation Service as he had been effectively under house arrest.
Judge McDonnell made no order in the case and the teenager was taken back into custody.