Boy remanded over woman’s stabbing faces more charges

THE 15-year-old accused of throttling and slashing the throat of a woman he met online is to face further charges, a court heard.

The schoolboy was refused bail last week after a garda testified he feared the teen would be ‘likely to commit murder if released’.

Gardaí now expect to bring more charges against the boy, Dublin Children’s Court heard yesterday.

He is charged with causing harm to the woman and production of a knife during the alleged assault at the baths in Queens Road, Dún Laoghaire, Co. Dublin, on December 23 last.

He has not yet indicated how he will plead.

The woman, who is 25 and of IrishMalaysian descent, was found near the baths at around 3.20pm on the date of the incident.

She was taken to hospital with serious injuries including a large cut to her neck.

Dressed in a red jumper, blue jeans and runners, the boy was embraced by his mother when his case resumed yesterday. She sat to his right and kept an arm around him during the proceedings while his father was seated close to them.

Judge Bernadette Owens noted the case was listed for directions from the Director of Public Prosecutions to be conveyed. Detective Garda Daniel Treacy told the court so far the only directions were in relation to the charges before the court. He said further directions were not available but added ‘we expect there will be further charges, judge’.

Judge Owens referred to an order made at the boy’s first hearing on December 26 at a sitting of the Children’s Court for the teenager to receive Assessment Consultation Therapy Service while at the Oberstown detention centre.

The ACTS assessment has not been fully completed, the court heard. Judge Owens further remanded the accused in custody and adjourned the case until January 11.

It was heard before Christmas that the boy engaged the complainant through the Whisper social media app and allegedly lured her to various abandoned locations ‘where he choked her to within an inch of her life to the extent that a tear rolled down her face’.

Gardaí have obtained CCTV footage from the area, the court was told.

The boy has no previous convictions and no history of drug addiction or abuse, the court also heard.