The boy was playing with friends in a skatepark in Swords, Dublin, when he was assaulted by Daniel Betley (20).

Betley also hit the teen’s friend, after he ran to help his injured pal, who was lying on the ground.

The accused said he had drunk “10 or 12 cans”, and he wrongly thought that his brother had been threatened by friends of the victims.

Betley said his mother was not aware of his behaviour and what he was up to, but she now knew and had complete control of him. He also said he had stopped drinking.

Judge Patrick Brady refused to order a probation report, saying it was not necessary. He fined Betley €1,250 and sentenced him to four months in prison.

The defendant, of Jugback Crescent in Swords, admitted before Swords District Court to two counts of assault causing harm at Balheary Skatepark.

Struck

Garda Caroline Hyland said a youth came to Swords Garda Station on September 20, 2008 to complain about an assault.

She said he claimed he had been with friends in the skatepark about 4pm when another gang started throwing stones at them.

He went over to ask them to stop, and Betley suddenly struck him in the face, and hit him three times in the right eye, which appeared swollen and red, the garda told the court.

Gda Hyland said that a second teen went to help his friend, and Betley punched him on the nose and he fell to the ground.

This victim had a cut to his left eye, which was swollen, and a cut and bruised face.

The court heard that Betley has 14 previous convictions, mostly for public order and road traffic matters.

Fiona D’Arcy, defending, said there were a number of youths involved in the incident, though Betley was the only one charged.

Ms D’Arcy said jobless Betley suffers from depression, and the combination of his medication and alcohol resulted in him committing the offences.

She said he wrongly thought his younger brother had been assaulted or threatened in some way, and he over-reacted.

hnews@herald.ie

- Eimear Cotter

[ Herald.ie ]