US tourist ‘suffered five life-threatening injuries’
3 teens to stand trial over attack
US tourist Stephen Termini suffered “five life-threatening injuries” when he was attacked by three youths last year, a court has heard.
The artist and musician, 57, was severely hurt during an incident on the corner of Store Street and Talbot Street in the north inner city of Dublin on the night of July 19.
Three boys then aged 14, 15 and 16, who cannot be named because they are minors, are accused of violent disorder and causing serious harm to Mr Termini, who is from Buffalo, New York.
The Dublin Children’s Court heard yesterday that the DPP recommended trial on indictment, meaning the case should go to the Circuit Court, which has broader sentencing powers.
The boys, now 15, 16, and 17, faced separate preliminary hearings to determine their trial venue.
Two of them offered guilty pleas in the hope that the Children’s Court would retain their cases.
However, state solicitor Sean Smith urged Judge Paul Kelly to note that the victim was in “mortal danger” and agree with the DPP about sending the case to the higher level.
Mr Smith described the injuries as “nothing short of devastating”, and the court heard the victim remained in intensive care for two weeks.
Garda Sergeant Niall Godfrey told the hearing that medical reports stated the injuries “created a substantial risk of death”. After viewing CCTV footage, hearing an outline of the allegations, and being furnished with hospital reports on Termini, the judge considered their case too serious and refused jurisdiction.
He noted the State needed eight weeks to complete books of evidence for the trio, who were accompanied to court by family members.
Two of them also had bail revoked, and they were remanded in custody after the judge was given lists of dates when they broke conditions imposed by the court, particularly their curfews.
Three high-quality CCTV clips which captured the incident were played during the hearing. Gda Sgt Godfrey said the now 16-year-old boy had been loitering at a nearby street and met the other two before 10.30pm. They went to the Store Street – Talbot Street junction, where they got into an altercation with Mr Termini, who was walking past them.
A witness heard him say, “I don’t want to fight,” but “moments later, all three attacked Stephen Termini”. One of the boys, now aged 16, said, “Judge, sorry, it was the circumstances; I didn’t mean to do what I done”.
His bail was revoked after the court heard he had broken conditions 14 times since December.
Barrister Doireann Mcdonagh said her other client, now 17, was willing to plead guilty. He remains on bail and will appear again in May.
Gda Sgt John Brady told the court the youngest member of the group, who has not indicated a plea, was alleged to have been the one who gave the blow that put Mr Termini to the ground and caused the head injuries. His bail was also revoked after gardai alerted the judge of 15 breaches of his conditions.
Judge, sorry, I didn’t mean to do what I done ACCUSED YESTERDAY