Teenager punched and kicked a man outside a Louth hotel

A teenager who punched and kicked a 22 year old man whose face was slashed by his co-defendant, has been given the opportunity to avoid 21 months detention.

The now 16 year old youth, who can't be named because of his age, pleaded guilty to assault causing harm arising out of the incident which occurred at the rear of the Imperial Hotel, Rampart Lane, Dundalk on August 6th 2023.

The victim had met the two defendants on Earl Street and discussed buying cannabis and followed them to a more secluded area, where his phone was taken and the older of the teens refused to give it back.

The then 15 year old defendant punched the man five times on the head and neck and the victim was also slashed twice on his face by the older youth.

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The defendant's caseWoman hit a security man with a glass in Louth pubWoman hit a security man with a glass in Louth pub had been adjourned for an updated Probation report and on Tuesday April 8th the boy’s father said his son had stepped away from the crowd he had been associating with.

His grandmother, who the boy lives with, told the court that “He’s a totally, totally different child”.

Judge Dara Hayes told him had he been an adult “you’d be going to jail for a long time”, but he has to assess him differently as a child and the 21 months detention he had in mind, has to be a last resort for someone of his age and he would give him the opportunity to not go to Oberstown Detention Centre.

The judge said he would defer making that order, and remanded him under the supervision of the Probation Service to November 11th, subject to him attending all appointments and continuing to engage with the Gaining Ground probation project as well as his youth training programme and abstaining from possessing or consuming alcohol or illicit substances.

Judge Hayes warned if he fails to do so “I won’t be giving you a second chance” and the 21 months would be imposed if he doesn’t do everything that he has asked of him.