Two Dublin youths pleaded guilty to the manslaughter of a teenage boy at the Central Criminal Court yesterday. Michael Maher (18), Cromcastle Park, Killmore West, Dublin 5 and Anthony Whelan (18), Millwood Villas, Kilbarrack, Dublin, pleaded guilty to the manslaughter of a teenage boy who cannot be named for legal reasons.
The incident occurred outside a cinema on Dublin's north side on October 13th, 2002.
Maher and Whelan also pleaded guilty to robbing the victim's Nokia mobile phone and cash on October 12th, 2002. They also pleaded guilty to a further number of thefts also committed on the night of October 12th, 2002. Their guilty plea was accepted by the State.
A third youth from Dublin, who cannot be named for legal reasons, yesterday pleaded not guilty to the murder of the teenage boy on October 13th, 2002 and not guilty to the robbery of the victim's mobile phone and cash on October 12th, 2002.
Before prosecuting counsel Mr Brendan Grehan made his opening speech, the trial went into legal argument in the absence of the jury.
Addressing the jury of eight men and four women, Mr Justice Abbott said the trial would resume today after legal argument was completed. The trial is expected to last two weeks in the Central Criminal Court.
Maher and Whelan will be sentenced when the trial of the other youth has been completed.