Boy gets probation for his part in girl’s DART fall
TEENAGE boy who pushed his bike at a teenage girl on a Dart station, causing her to fall off the platform and become briefly trapped beside a train, has been placed under probation supervision for 12 months.
The 17-year-old boy, who cannot be named, pleaded guilty to one count of assault causing harm in April 2021 at Howth Junction Dart station earlier this year.
Finalising the boy’s sentence yesterday, Judge Martin Nolan said he had acted in a ‘reckless manner’. However, he said the behaviour, while ‘reprehensiject ble’, had not been intentional.
Judge Nolan said he did not consider a period of detention to be appropriate in this instance. He imposed a 12-month period of probation on the defendant, subA to strict conditions. Judge Nolan told the boy it was his responsibility to follow the Probation Service directions, which would help him to become a ‘good member of society’.
At a previous hearing, Judge Nolan said that the incident had been a ‘terrifying’ experience for the girl.
The girl was hospitalised and suffered concussion. She has no memory of the assault but outlined a number of difficulties she has experienced as a result of the events that day in a victim impact statement.
Judge Nolan said the boy deliberately turned his bike towards the girl. He added: ‘It was prankish behaviour, irresponsible behaviour. But it is highly unlikely he anticipated what occurred.’
Taking into account a number of mitigating factors, including the boy’s guilty plea, his lack of prior convictions and his remorse, the judge said he would deal with the boy by way of community sanctions.
Michael O’Higgins SC, defending, said the boy wished to apologise ‘unreservedly’ to the girl for his actions on the day, which counsel described as ‘completely thoughtless’.
A video of the incident at Howth Junction Dart station, which was leaked online, was viewed 100 million times. In her victim impact statement, the girl said she felt ‘let down’ by Irish Rail.