TWO TEENAGE girls who took part in a vicious attack on a 12-year-old, her mother and sister, after a drink and drugs binge, have been remanded on bail pending sentence, by Judge Elizabeth MacGrath at the Dublin Children’s Court.
The pair, aged 16 and 17, who cannot be identified because they are juveniles, pleaded guilty to two charges of assault causing harm at Tyrconnell Road, Inchicore, Dublin, on October 21st last year. They have also admitted related breach of the peace charges.
Garda Colleen Gallagher told the court a 12-year-old girl was “punched in the nose” by the 17-year-old who then fled.
The young girl who was left with blood pouring down her face and later had to be taken to hospital, was assisted by passers-by who contacted her mother. The mother, who is in her forties, and another daughter arrived and they approached the teenage attacker who by now was with two other girls at the Blackhorse Luas stop.
The 17-year-old and her co-defendant then attacked the older sister.
The 16-year-old accused also attacked the mother, who was left with a swollen left eye. Her older daughter had “a burst lip, marks on her neck and was holding hair pulled from her head” when the gardaí arrived.
The mother and elder daughter were chased to their car by the two girls and a third girl, who is awaiting a hearing.
The girls then “stood around the car shaking it”. “The injured party told them that the gardaí had been called and they fled.”
Garda Gallagher said that the first assault, on the 12-year-old, which triggered the further attacks, was “unprovoked”.
In pleas for leniency, defence solicitor Michelle Finan said the 16-year-old girl had never been in trouble before. She said the girl had attended a special education school and had recently completed the Junior Certificate.
She asked the court to note that the attacks occurred after the girls “had been drinking and taking drugs”.
Ms Finan said the 17-year-old was remorseful and accepted responsibility for attacking the 12 year old and the later attacks
Judge MacGrath remanded both defendants on bail until a date in October.
A third girl, also aged 17, is on bail awaiting a hearing.