Teen who admits attacking homeless man gets bail as no room in children’s detention centre

David Raleigh

A teenager who admitted his role in an “appalling” attack on a “defenceless” homeless man in Limerick City, was remanded on bail, because no beds were available at Oberstown Children's Detention Campus, a court heard.

The youth, who was 15 at the time admitted to being part of a “feral” three male gang that kicked and punched the victim 109 times, in an “unprovoked” attack, Limerick Circuit Criminal Court heard Tuesday evening.

The defendant, now 17, who presently cannot be identified because of reporting restrictions imposed in the case, appeared before the court on a signed plea to one count of engaging in violent disorder, at Wickham Street, Limerick City, around 5am, May 8th, 2022.

The court heard a member of the public alerted gardaí about the attack on the victim, Declan Quinlivan, of no fixed abode, who was then aged 39.

When gardaí arrived on the scene, the three males, and a female, were standing around Mr Quinlivan who had “blood pouring from his forehead”.

The males, including the defendant, appeared to be making gestures and threats towards him before they all ran from gardaí, it was heard.

Gardaí gave chase and apprehended the defendant and an older man.

A third youth, Aaron Holland, then aged 17, of Marian Road, Templemore, Co Tipperary, who escaped at the time, was arrested by gardaí five months later.

Mr Holland, (19), received a fully suspended two-year jail sentence last June after he pleaded guilty to one count of violent disorder.

Gardaí harvested CCTV footage of the attack and after his arrest the defendant identified himself on the footage.

After viewing the footage gardaí counted 109 individual kicks and punches to Mr Quinlivan over a sustained four-minute attack.

Mr Quinlivan was repeatedly kicked and punched in the head and body while he lay writhing in pain on the ground.

He is heard on the footage pleading with the three males to stop.

At one point, during the sustained attack, the three males paused their attack and hid in the shadows momentarily as a taxi drove past the dawn scene.

When the three males returned moments later, the defendant demanded Mr Quinlivan’s phone and its passcode.

The defendant is also heard on the footage discovering cigarettes on Mr Quinlivan’s person after searching him.

Mr Holland is heard on the CCTV threatening Mr Quinlivan not to contact the gardaí.

John O’Sullivan, prosecuting counsel, told the court “the behaviour of the three accused was feral”.

The defendant’s barrister, Yvonne Quinn, told the court that the attack was “appalling”.

Ms Quinn said the youth was intoxicated at the time and “is ashamed”.

Appealing to the court for leniency, Ms Quinn offered that the defendant has “no previous convictions” and “he hugely regrets his wrongdoing”.

Ms Quinn told the court the defendant acknowledges that “he has to suffer the consequences of his actions”.

Judge Daly adjourned sentencing to next Monday, November 4th.