Irish Independent

Inmates’ attack on Boy A ‘had been planned’

:: ‘Boy A’ is kicked and punched by inmates at detention centre

- Philip Ryan and Ken Foy

ONE of the teenagers who murdered schoolgirl Ana Kriegel has been assaulted in a planned attack by fellow inmates at a detention centre for young offenders.

The convicted murderer, who was known as ‘Boy A’ during the horrific murder trial was assaulted by two fellow inmates in the Oberstown Detention Centre on Sunday.

The 15-year-old was set upon while he watched television, and received several kicks and punches to the head before staff intervened to break up the assault.

A source said the attack on the teenager, who was convicted of the murder and sexual assault last year, “appeared to be planned”.

ONE of the teenagers who murdered schoolgirl Ana Kriegel has been assaulted in a planned attack by fellow inmates at a detention centre for young offenders.

The convicted murderer, who was identified only as Boy A during the horrific trial, was assaulted by two youths in the Oberstown Detention Centre on Sunday night.

The 15-year-old was set upon while he watched television, and received several kicks and punches to the head before staff intervened to break up the assault.

A source said Boy A, who was sentenced to life in prison for the murder of 14-year old Ana, received only minor injuries from the assault thanks to the early interventi­on by the staff members.

The source added that the attack on the teenager, who was convicted of the murder and sexual assault of Ana last year, “appeared to have been planned”.

Local gardaí from Balbriggan in north Dublin are examining CCTV footage related to the incident which was recorded in the detention centre.

In a statement, a Garda spokespers­on said: “An Garda Síochána are investigat­ing an alleged assault that occurred at Oberstown Detention Campus on Sunday, May 24, 2020.”

Ana was found murdered in a derelict house near her home in Lucan, west Dublin, in May 2018.

She had been sexually assaulted before she was beaten to death.

She had been reported missing from her home by her parents, Patric and Geraldine Kriegel, three days earlier.

Two 13-year-old boys who were last seen with Ana were the main suspects in the case, and were arrested and charged with her murder.

Both denied responsibi­lity for the murder.

After a lengthy trial, the two boys were found guilty of Ana’s murder by a jury in June last year.

They became the two youngest people to be convicted of

murder in the history of the State.

Boy A was also convicted of aggravated sexual assault involving serious violence, and was sentenced to life for the murder with a review after 12 years.

He was sentenced to an additional eight years for the aggravated sexual assault.

After the trial, it emerged detectives found thousands of pornograph­ic images on two mobile phones belonging to Boy A after they searched his home.

Among the online searches on the killer’s phones were “child porn”, “animal porn”, “horse porn” and “dark web”.

The jury was never told about the pornograph­ic images as Mr Justice Paul McDermott ruled they could not be produced in evidence,

 ??  ?? saying that “relevance” was lacking.
Until last year, Boy A denied murdering Ana despite the damning evidence produced during the trial.
However, since his sentencing and detention at Oberstown, he has been interviewe­d by medical profession­als.
It was during these interviews that he finally admitted responsibi­lity for 14-year-old Ana’s murder – but continued to deny the sexual assault.
The other teenager, Boy B, who was also unanimousl­y found guilty of Ana’s murder, is appealing against his conviction and recently lodged appeal documents to the Court of Appeal.
He has denied his involvemen­t in the murder in accounts given to profession­als while in detention.
saying that “relevance” was lacking. Until last year, Boy A denied murdering Ana despite the damning evidence produced during the trial. However, since his sentencing and detention at Oberstown, he has been interviewe­d by medical profession­als. It was during these interviews that he finally admitted responsibi­lity for 14-year-old Ana’s murder – but continued to deny the sexual assault. The other teenager, Boy B, who was also unanimousl­y found guilty of Ana’s murder, is appealing against his conviction and recently lodged appeal documents to the Court of Appeal. He has denied his involvemen­t in the murder in accounts given to profession­als while in detention.

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