A teenager has appeared in court over an assault on a British tourist in Dublin’s Temple Bar area over the weekend.
Three men targeted in an “extremely violent” unprovoked attack during the weekend required hospital treatment. The men, aged in their twenties, were transferred to St James’s Hospital after the incident, which took place at about 10:05pm on Friday, involving a gang of up to 15 on Fownes Street Upper in the city centre.
A visible Garda presence could be seen in the area during Saturday, while several officers patrolled the area. Two of the men were members of an amateur soccer club who came to play a friendly match in Santry, Dublin.
The teenager, arrested at the weekend, was charged at Pearse Street Garda station and was held pending his appearance at Dublin’s Children Court on Monday morning. He is accused of robbing one of the English tourists of his wallet and its contents.
It was claimed in court that the 17-year-old punched Mr Carter and forced him to the ground, because he saw an “easy opportunity” to try and rob the man. The suspect from west Dublin cannot be identified because he is a minor. The accused was granted bail however was ordered to obey strict conditions. He will appear before court again on 5 September to hear directions from the Director of Public Prosecutions.
Throughout the contested bail hearings, he was seen weeping, and was accompanied by his mother. The court heard the accused “made no reply” to the charge.
Garda Dolan described the robbery of the tourist as “unprovoked and extremely violent in nature.” The tourist, who has since returned to the UK and is expected to seek medical treatment, sustained a suspected broken nose, along with bruising to his head, face and neck.
Reports indicate that a gang of up to 15 carried out the assault, during which they “kicked and stamped” on the tourists. Speaking to Dublin Live, manager of St John’s Sports Football Club in Aylesbury, Scott Davis, said, “Some guys on the street offered them cocaine, and our guys said no.”
Scott said that things turned violent soon afterwards. Describing the vicious assault, he said: “One lad was walking away from the situation and got hit in the back of his head with something. He had a gash in his head that had to be glued back together.”
“He got hit and was knocked out straight away. He didn’t know where he was when he woke up while getting his head scanned at the hospital.”
Meanwhile, a fourth man who was assaulted on Friday night has since spoken out about the “frightening” attack which left him with an injured eye socket. He said the assault unfolded after he said he didn’t want to buy drugs.
He has since told The Journal that he contacted Minister Helen McEntee’s office over the ordeal.
“I spoke to some people here and they said to call Helen McEntee, I left a message at her office. She should phone me back,” he said.