A gang of teenagers drove a lesbian couple out of their home after continually harassing them over their sexuality, a court heard yesterday.
The couple had endured a campaign of torment and abuse from a group of intolerant teenage girls, Dublin Children's Court heard.
They were forced to move after the harassment escalated with one of the women being attacked and injured by a 16-year-old girl, who smashed a glass bottle over her head, Judge Cormac Dunne was told.
The girl had pleaded guilty to attacking the woman causing her harm at Whitestown Gardens, Clonsilla, Dublin, on November 23rd, 2002, contrary to Section 3 of the Non Fatal Offences Against the Persons Act.
She also admitted two further charges under the Public Order Act for being intoxicated to such an extent that she was a danger to herself and others and for engaging in threatening, abusive and insulting behaviour on the same date.
Garda Olive Crowe told Judge Dunne that the young people in the area had persistently tormented the couple. On the night of the assault, the gang had created a disturbance outside the couple's home.
One of the women went out to speak with them and pleaded to be left alone but the girl, who was drunk, picked up a glass bottle and hit her across the head.
The woman was left with a deep cut on her head that required three stitches. Her partner called gardaí after witnessing the unprovoked attack.
The girl then started to hurl abuse at gardaí who responded to the incident and the situation became even more volatile, Garda Crowe said. Since then the couple had moved away over the abuse, the court heard.
In mitigation, solicitor Mr John Quinn said the girl had no previous convictions, is in full-time education and works part-time. The incident took place after she got drunk and when she was less mature, he said.
Judge Dunne said it seemed the girl had acted on the "spur of the moment". He ruled she should pay the victim €500.
Judge Dunne said if the money was paid within four months, he would consider applying the Probation Act, leaving the girl without a conviction. He granted bail and adjourned the case until June 25th next.