Teenager is charged with assault on boy (14)

A TEENAGER has been charged with assault causing harm to a 14-year-old boy who remains in a critical condition in hospital.

The 17-year-old, who cannot be named for legal reasons, appeared before a special sitting of Cashel District Court in Co Tipperary.

The charge followed the discovery of a 14-year-old boy lying unconscious in the Lakelands area of Tipperary Town shortly before 11pm on Thursday.

Locals rushed to help the injured teen, who was lying by the side of the road.

He was rushed by paramedics to South Tipperary General Hospital in Clonmel with serious head injuries.

The boy remains in a critical but stable condition with his family by his bedside.

Gardaí arrested the 17-yearold a short time later and he was questioned at Tipperary Town garda station.

He was brought before a special district court sitting on the instructions of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP).

Evidence of arrest, caution and charge was offered before the State asked for the teen to be remanded in custody.

Judge Terence Finn granted the application and remanded the teen to appear again before the district court in Tipperary on Thursday.

A small crowd of people had gathered at Cashel courthouse for the brief hearing.

Gardaí have again renewed their appeal for anyone who may have spotted suspicious activity in the Lakelands area to contact them to help their inquiries.

The scene was sealed off after the 14-year-old was found.

A full forensic examination of the scene was conducted by members of the Garda Technical Bureau.

Gardaí also conducted doorto-door inquiries in the area to determine if local residents saw or heard anything suspicious.

While the area involved is not covered by CCTV security camera footage, officers are checking CCTV cameras from business premises in the area to determine the movements of persons of interest to them.

The 14-year-old is from a highly respected family in Tipperary Town and his parents have been flooded with messages of sympathy and support.

Prayers were offered for the safe recovery of the teen at all Masses in Tipperary Town over the weekend.

The teen is a student at a secondary school located just a short distance from where he was found on Thursday night.