Court hears Laois father alerted gardaí to son

Court hears Laois father alerted gardaí to son

A LAOIS father who saw a video circulating on social media showing his son being assaulted alerted gardaí to the incident, leading to a teenager appearing before Portlaoise Juvenile Court last week charged with assault causing harm.

The court heard that the father became aware of the assault after viewing footage that had been shared online.

Following a garda investigation, a juvenile was subsequently charged in connection with the incident that took place on 13 July last year at New Park, Portlaoise.

Garda Sgt Kirby said the video that was circulated online showed a party in a wooded area in New Park with the accused punching and kicking the injured party in the face, which caused bruising to the then 14-year-old’s face and eye.

Sgt Kirby said it was the injured party’s father who brought the video to the attention of the gardaí and that the accused was 15 years of age at the time.

He said when the teenager, who has no previous convictions, was interviewed, he “made admissions and said that he was sorry. He hasn’t come to garda attention since. The injured party’s victim impact statement hasn’t yet been canvassed. I’m asking that the case be put back and we will look for one off him.” Judge Andrew Gubbins adjourned the case to 14 December to allow time for a victim impact statement to be obtained from the injured party.

* No one in the case can be identified due to the ages of those involved.