Teen wins legal battle over charge to be faced by his attacker

A SCHOOLBOY who was kicked about the head by another youth has won a High Court battle over a decision to reduce the criminal charge against his attacker.

Senior judges in Belfast quashed the Public Prosecution Service (PPS) move amid claims that it breached victim notification requirements, his lawyer confirmed.

The case is now expected to be referred back to the Youth Court for a fresh determination on the offence.

The boy was aged 14 when he was attacked at a location in the city in 2016.

The incident had been filmed and the footage was then posted online, according to his legal team.

A youth, now aged 16, was arrested and charged with attempted grievous bodily harm with intent.

But on the day he was due to go on trial the PPS reduced the charge against him to common assault.

He pleaded guilty to that offence and was due to be sentenced when the legal challenge was launched. Lawyers representing the assault victim and his family claimed that they were not consulted before the lesser charge was imposed.

They contended that the decision breached their human rights and the Department of Justice’s victim charter.

Neither of the teenagers can be identified because of their ages. Judicial review proceedings were ended yesterday, with the outcome confirmed by the twojudge panel.