Teen Girl To Stand Trial For Assault Case

A schoolgirl is on trial accused of attacking a man who tried to protect a tourist allegedly assaulted by a teen gang.

The girl, 16, had been charged at the Children's Court with assault causing harm to a man, at a bus stop on the Swords Road, in north Dublin, on December 13. She is also accused of attacking a woman at Swords Road, in Dublin, on the same date.

The man was cut to the face during the incident and will is allegedly scarred for life.

A bench warrant had been issued last week after the court had heard that the girl had fled to England with her father.

Earlier a judge had held the case was too serious to be retained in the Children's Court and should be sent forward to the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, which can impose lengthier sentences.

During the incident, the girl allegedly approached a female and attacked her. "There was a number of them, one got in a dispute with a French girl. The man stood up to break up the argument," a Garda had told an earlier hearing in the Children’s Court in an outline of the evidence.

"He was set on by the accused and the others. They went for him. He suffered a laceration to his cheek and received three stitches."

The court was told that the man was struck to this head with a bottle and bitten on his arm.

He was left with a scare on his face, it was also alleged.

Defence solicitor Sarah Molloy had said the girl was denying the allegations against her.

(DW/JM)