Teenager stabbed seven times outside Leaving Cert party, court hears
Tom Tuite
A teenager attacked outside a Leaving Cert party in Dublin was stabbed seven times and suffered a collapsed lung, a court has heard.
The incident happened as more than 150 young people attended an exam results celebration at Vela nightclub, at Liffey Valley, west Dublin, at about 12.30am on September 3rd.
Emergency services were called, and a youth in his late teens was rushed by ambulance to James Connolly Memorial Hospital in critical condition.
In September, a 16-year-old boy, whose identity cannot be reported because he is a minor, appeared at the Dublin Children's Court.
He is accused of assault causing harm to a male, at the Vela nightclub car park, on September 3rd. There was no application for bail, and he was held in custody.
The case resumed on Monday for a preliminary hearing to confirm the teen's trial venue. The DPP recommended it be dealt with at the Circuit Court level, which has broader sentencing powers.
CCTV footage
Detective Garda David Sheedy gave an outline of the prosecution and played a compilation of CCTV footage from around the venue.
He told the court that the injured party was involved in an altercation with the accused. The court heard the defendant "produced a knife and made seven stabbing motions towards the injured party".
The court heard that the youth returned to the front of the premises, where he "collapsed" while the defendant fled.
Judge Toale heard that he had seven stab wounds to his abdomen and leg area, which required two blood transfusions, and he suffered a collapsed lung.
He spent five days in hospital, and his recovery was described in court as an ongoing process. He has to attend physiotherapy for a "deep" injury to his leg. However, Detective Garda Sheedy said that the youth was expected to recover fully, but "it is taking time".
A medical report was handed into court detailing the victim's "front, back and side wounds".
CCTV cameras captured the incident, which resulted in gardaí nominating the defendant as a suspect.
The court was told they also used software to "track" the teen in the footage for 40 minutes. When Detective Garda Sheedy arrested the defendant a week later, he was carrying a knife in his waistband.
Book of evidence
The detective said the boy was mannerly but made no admissions when questioned.
He agreed with defence barrister Cecilia Ni Choileain that he could not say the defendant instigated the incident.
Pleading for the case to be retained in the Children's Court, counsel asked the judge to note the boy's "fractured" upbringing and how he had been affected following family bereavements.
Until then, counsel said, he had been doing well in school, but afterwards, he started getting into trouble.
However, Judge Toale held the case was too serious, and he refused jurisdiction.
The teen, accompanied to court by a parent, was further remanded in custody pending the preparation of a book of evidence.
He will appear again next week.
