WOMAN ON BUS HIT WITH A ROCK

‘VERY TROUBLED YOUNG MAN’ THREW ROCK THROUGH BUS WINDOW

A YOUTH appeared in court last week for throwing a rock at a bus window, hitting an elderly woman on the side of her head.

Jordan Heffernan (18), 13 Rathsallagh Park, Shankill, appeared in Bray District Court last Thursday.

The incident occurred on November 8, 2016. The woman was taken to hospital where she had stitches and a CAT scan.

The matter was adjourned to March 22 for the preparation of a probation report.

A YOUNG man who threw a rock through a bus window and hit an elderly lady on the head has had his case adjourned for a probation report.

Jordan Heffernan (18), 13 Rathsallagh Park, Shankill, appeared in Bray District Court last Thursday. The court heard that Heffernan was pleading guilty in all matters.

The incident occurred at 4.40 p.m. on November 8, 2016, just half an hour after gardaí had released Heffernan into his mother’s custody following a public order incident.

The bus driver told gardaí that, as he was driving past the petrol station, a rock was thrown and the elderly woman was hit on the side of the head. She was brought to St Vincent’s hospital where she required stitches and a CAT scan. There were around 15 or 20 passengers on the bus.

A witness present in court was not re- quired as Heffernan’s barrister Eamonn O’Moore told the court that morning that his client would be pleading guilty.

The court heard that the witness was sitting at the top of the bus and saw what happened.

Earlier in the day, Heffernan was among a group of youths outside Brady’s pub. They were kicking the door and attempting to use the free WiFi.

Gardaí told Heffernan to leave the area but he wouldn’t. They took him home and released him into his mother’s custody. It was shortly after this that the incident involving the elderly victim occurred.

Mr O’Moore said that his client is a very troubled young man. He said that Heffernan had been a juvenile at the time of the offence.

He said that he struggles with impulse control, outbursts, bonding, and forming normal relationships and is highly medicated. He said that his client is no longer associating with the same group he was with on that day.

‘ This was a horrendous incident for the lady who was injured and everyone else who was on the bus,’ said Judge David Kennedy.

He adjourned the matter to March 22 for a probation report and psychiatric report.