Teenagers accused of attacking man near the 3Arena have charges upgraded

Tom Tuite

Two teenage boys accused of attacking a concertgoer who was severely injured near the 3Arena in January have seen their cases upgraded to a more serious assault category.

A Co Laois man in his early 20s was left fighting for his life in hospital from what was described as a sustained attack.

It occurred outside the venue in Dublin's city centre after a concert by Scottish DJ Ewan McVicar.

The injured party was taken to Beaumont Hospital with two bleeds on the brain and was placed in an induced coma afterwards.

Two boys aged 16 and 17 were originally charged in March with assault causing harm to the man at North Wall Quay on January 30th.

They were also accused of violent disorder by using or threatening to use violence, with their co-accused, during the same alleged incident.

The pair, who cannot be named because they are juveniles, appeared again at the Dublin Children's Court on Thursday.

The existing assault charges were replaced with more serious allegations under section 4 of the Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person Act for recklessly or intentionally causing serious harm to the man, which carries a possible life sentence.

They made "no reply" when charged on Thursday morning, the court heard. One boy was remanded in custody following bail objections.

They have not yet indicated how they will plead.

Judge Paul Kelly noted from Garda Kevin Moran and Detective Garda Barry Brennan that the Director of Public Prosecutions stated they should face trial on indictment in the Circuit Court, which has wider sentencing powers.

However, defence solicitors Brian Keenan and Holly Laher secured disclosure orders to prepare for a preliminary hearing to plead for the case to be retained in the Children's Court.

Detective Garda Brennan said the evidence involved a "substantial amount" and would be forwarded in the next couple of weeks.

Judge Kelly scheduled a mid-July hearing to determine the trial venue.

The younger defendant, accompanied to court by a family member, was released on bail with conditions.

However, his co-accused was remanded in custody after the court noted objections from Detective Garda Brennan, who said that the teenager had repeatedly broken bail terms set down earlier, by entering the Dublin 1 area and failing to sign on as required once a week at a Garda station.

Laher pleaded that he would abide by the conditions and avail of supports; however, the judge said that, in light of the evidence, he had "no option" but to deny bail.

A man is also before the courts on related charges.

A previous bail hearing was told that the incident was allegedly planned and premeditated, and that it was filmed on a phone.