Teenager attacked by teen in custody of HSE

Patrick2010 · 13-12-2011 01:37AM #1

http://www.rte.ie/news/2011/1212/clare.html

An 18-year-old man has been jailed for 12 years for an unprovoked, sustained and ferocious attack on a 16-year-old boy at a petrol station in Co Clare.
He inflicted 65 kicks and stamps on the boy as well as two stamps to his chest and 26 punches. The victim has been left with permanent brain damage.
The 18-year-old was originally charged with attempted murder but the prosecution accepted a plea of assault causing serious harm.
He was in the care of the HSE and was being transferred back to his accommodation by two female social care workers when he demanded the driver of the car stop at the service station.
Mr Justice Paul Carney directed that the CCTV footage of the attack be played to the courtroom before he imposed his sentence this afternoon, so that the ferocity of the gratuitous kicking of the boy's head could be appreciated and his sentence understood.
He warned anyone who was squeamish to leave the courtroom before the footage, lasting around five minutes, was shown.
The victim was waiting for his mother just before 10pm on 23 July last year.
The CCTV footage showed him sitting on a windowsill when he was attacked by the now 18-year-old. The older teenager repeatedly punched him in the face, stamped on his head and kicked his head as he lay motionless on the ground.
The assault continued for more than four minutes after the boy stopped moving.
The older boy briefly left the scene, leaving the younger teenage boy lying on the ground. He then returned and began stamping on the boy's head again.
The attack was observed by 11 eyewitnesses but it was only when the teenager returned to attack the boy for a second time that a man intervened and forced him to move away.
Mr Justice Carney said he was taking into account the unprovoked nature of the attack, its ferocity, and its sustained nature.
He said only the intervention of a third party saved the boy from much worse. He said he was also taking into account the nature of the injuries and their effect on the victim.
He said the appropriate sentence was 15 years but he suspended the final three having regard to the 18-year-old's guilty plea, his lack of previous convictions and his young age.
The boy's family did not want to comment afterwards.
They left the courts in tears.
The court was told that the boy suffers from weakness on his right side, deafness, as well as memory and speech problems.

Where were the 2 social workers while he was spending 5 minutes attacking the poor kid and why did none of the 11 onlookers intervene?

XxMCRxBabyxX · 13-12-2011 01:40AM

Patrick2010 wrote: »

Where were the 2 social workers while he was spending 5 minutes attacking the poor kid and why did none of the 11 onlookers intervene?

That is the same question that my dad and I asked while watching this story on the news earlier. Four minutes and no one felt the need to step in?

7Sins · 13-12-2011 01:41AM

People are less likely to do anything in such incidences when there's other people around as they assume someone else will. Not to forget the morons that would hit record on their phone first before thinking to dial 999 or 911 whatever the number is

emo72 · 13-12-2011 01:43AM

how do we breed kids like this in our country? it seems to be getting worse.

Guill · 13-12-2011 01:47AM

Isn't it great that you can get time off your sentence for 'no previous convictions'. No matter how vicious and dangerous you are.

ProudDUB · 13-12-2011 01:47AM

Patrick2010 wrote: »

Where were the 2 social workers while he was spending 5 minutes attacking the poor kid and why did none of the 11 onlookers intervene?

I'd love to know that too. And the really sad thing is that even if this scumbag serves the full 12 years of his sentence (which he probably won't knowing our legal system) he will be a mere 30 years old when he gets out. He is all set to start his life all over again, but the poor victim may be stuck with injuries that may scar his life forever.

TeddyTedson · 13-12-2011 01:50AM

It seems bizarre that nobody stepped in seeing as it went on for four and a half minutes!? Although it's not a surprise to me, from experience.
Absolutely devastating for that 16 year old, and for his family to have their world turned upside down like that.

ASOT · 13-12-2011 01:51AM

I honestly dont understand how people wouldn't intervene, especially in a situation like that. Fair enough if its a gang ect but it was one lad. 11 bystanders and not a single one doing anything is sickening.

Iv stopped 2 or 3 fights in town where it was basically one lad beating the crap out of another while literally 30 odd people did nothing and dozens more walked by. I know people want to keep out of trouble by ignoring it but in situations like this id be willing to get myself hurt.

Maybe thats just me though but one intervention their could have saved the poor lad from the damage he suffered!

TeddyTedson · 13-12-2011 01:53AM

ProudDUB wrote: »

I'd love to know that too. And the really sad thing is that even if this scumbag serves the full 12 years of his sentence (which he probably won't knowing our legal system) he will be a mere 30 years old when he gets out. He is all set to start his life all over again, but the poor victim may be stuck with injuries that may scar his life forever.

He was left with permanent brain damage.
The even sadder thing is maybe if someone stepped in he'd have been ok.

Haelium · 13-12-2011 01:53AM

ASOT wrote: »

I honestly dont understand how people wouldn't intervene, especially in a situation like that. Fair enough if its a gang ect but it was one lad. 11 bystanders and not a single one doing anything is sickening.

Iv stopped 2 or 3 fights in town where it was basically one lad beating the crap out of another while literally 30 odd people did nothing and dozens more walked by. I know people want to keep out of trouble by ignoring it but in situations like this id be willing to get myself hurt.

Maybe thats just me though but one intervention their could have saved the poor lad from the damage he suffered!

It's because they know that if they were to intervene they would probably end up being judged more harshly in court than the average psychotic we hear about.

investment · 13-12-2011 01:54AM

Bystander effect
The bystander effect refers to the phenomenon in which the greater the number of people present, the less likely people are to help a person in distress. When an emergency situation occurs, observers are more likely to take action if there are few or no other witnesses.

XxMCRxBabyxX · 13-12-2011 01:55AM

7Sins wrote: »

People are less likely to do anything in such incidences when there's other people around as they assume someone else will. Not to forget the morons that would hit record on their phone first before thinking to dial 999 or 911 whatever the number is

Honestly, I could understand that for the first 30 seconds or so but surely people would start thinking something needs to be done when it is still going on after that. People stood and watched for four minutes. They did nothing until he stopped himself. They should feel ashamed of themselves for standing by and letting a 16 year old nearly lose his physical life and have his whole mental and social life change because of their inability

amacachi · 13-12-2011 01:57AM

Judging from another thread here tonight I'm surprised some posters haven't suggested that the two social workers and all the onlookers must be Chinese.

Aoifey! · 13-12-2011 01:57AM

That story is horrific. The poor boy. I cannot believe not one person intervened or tried to stop him.

pragmatic1 · 13-12-2011 01:58AM

emo72 wrote: »

how do we breed kids like this in our country? it seems to be getting worse.

Because some dumb twats have kids and then decide that they cant look after them.

stupidusername · 13-12-2011 02:01AM

Don't get why everyone is so shocked that no witnesses stepped in. I would be the most likely person to do something in a situation but imagining this for what it was,i can see myself being very reluctant to do so.you have to consider what is likely to happen you if you do. And I dont know about the witnesses but i'm not very physically able to take on a man

af_thefragile · 13-12-2011 02:05AM

stupidusername wrote: »

Don't get why everyone is so shocked that no witnesses stepped in. I would be the most likely person to do something in a situation but imagining this for what it was,i can see myself being very reluctant to do so.you have to consider what is likely to happen you if you do. And I dont know about the witnesses but i'm not very physically able to take on a man

True. I couldn't stand witnessing something like that happening and neither could I just walk away from such a thing not doing anything about it. But at the same time I'ld be quite reluctant stepping in. I'm not a very physically big guy and you can't overestimate retard strength!

To be honest I dunno what I'ld have done. Maybe called for help or something...

investment · 13-12-2011 02:10AM

Even though i understand why no one stepped in the save the victim

The guy was 18 ffs..he was hardy fcuking arman khan, the grown men shown have intervened, even just to stand over the victims body and stop the attack from continuing on any further

I was love to give that scumbag the same kicking, typical single mother scumbag

stupidusername · 13-12-2011 02:11AM

af_thefragile wrote: »

True. I couldn't stand witnessing something like that happening and neither could I just walk away from such a thing not doing anything about it. But at the same time I'ld be quite reluctant stepping in. I'm not a very physically big guy and you can't overestimate retard strength!

To be honest I dunno what I'ld have done. Maybe called for help or something...

That's what i'm saying,it's easy for everyone here to judge and say why didn't they,but if you're put in that position I wonder how many here would actually do something. And i'm not necessarily saying those who wouldn't are cowards,just maybe dont judge others so harshly.

I can imagine that yeah I probably would shout at him to stop or call the gardai or maybe ask someone to help stop him

TeddyTedson · 13-12-2011 02:15AM

The 11 by standers quote may be misleading though I suppose. Some could have been OAPS, children or women (I'm not being sexist there but this guy could have been huge and you can't expect your average woman to take on a man who is full of rage).
But someone in my position has no excuses.

Kristopherus · 13-12-2011 02:21AM

Patrick2010 wrote: »

http://www.rte.ie/news/2011/1212/clare.html

Where were the 2 social workers while he was spending 5 minutes attacking the poor kid and why did none of the 11 onlookers intervene?

Its very likely he would have turned on the Social Workers had they tried to intervene. If he had hurt any of them, the taxpayer would be picking up the tab when she sues:(

Da Shins Kelly · 13-12-2011 02:22AM

That's horrific. Can't believe no one did anything. I'm a fairly short, not so strong girl, but I'd have at least said something or called on someone else who was bigger and stronger to do something.

pragmatic1 · 13-12-2011 02:24AM

Da Shins Kelly wrote: »

That's horrific. Can't believe no one did anything. I'm a fairly short, not so strong girl, but I'd have at least said something or called on someone else who was bigger and stronger to do something.

You're a girl? And you like hip hop. Marry me.

Da Shins Kelly · 13-12-2011 02:31AM

pragmatic1 wrote: »

You're a girl? And you like hip hop. Marry me.

Let's do it.

44leto · 13-12-2011 02:31AM

That is an incredibly sad OP and a worry for us all.

Doc Ruby · 13-12-2011 02:32AM

investment wrote: »

Bystander effect
The bystander effect refers to the phenomenon in which the greater the number of people present, the less likely people are to help a person in distress. When an emergency situation occurs, observers are more likely to take action if there are few or no other witnesses.

stupidusername wrote: »

I can imagine that yeah I probably would shout at him to stop or call the gardai or maybe ask someone to help stop him

I'd have left half his teeth lying on the ground beside his unconscious stretched out body. What is wrong with people these days. You have to remember there are worse things to lose than a few months freedom.

TeddyTedson · 13-12-2011 02:40AM

44leto wrote: »

That is an incredibly sad OP and a worry for us all.

It's sad alright but nothing for most of us to worry about, that might sound harsh but most of us won't ever experience anything like this to that extreme

Doc Ruby wrote: »

I'd have left half his teeth lying on the ground beside his unconscious stretched out body. What is wrong with people these days. You have to remember there are worse things to lose than a few months freedom.

You'd do time if you went over board like you sound like you would, but you could take action in an appropriate time without having to serve time, you don't need to knock him unconscious and smash out his teeth, although he'd probably deserve it.

Da Shins Kelly · 13-12-2011 02:41AM

Doc Ruby wrote: »

I'd have left half his teeth lying on the ground beside his unconscious stretched out body. What is wrong with people these days. You have to remember there are worse things to lose than a few months freedom.

I'm pretty sure there was some test done on this that showed that people are less likely to interfere in an incident if they are part of a group. However, if someone points directly at an individual and asks them to help, apparently it's then much more likely that they'll get help.

Doc Ruby · 13-12-2011 02:42AM

TeddyTedson wrote: »

You'd do time if you went over board like you sound like you would, but you could take action in an appropriate time without having to serve time, you don't need to knock him unconscious and smash out his teeth, although he'd probably deserve it.

I maybe didn't phrase it like perhaps I should have, but I'd rather do the time than spend the rest of my life looking at myself in the mirror wondering if I could have saved a young lad from brain damage.

flutterflye · 13-12-2011 02:43AM

Da Shins Kelly wrote: »

I'm pretty sure there was some test done on this that showed that people are less likely to interfere in an incident if they are part of a group. However, if someone points directly at an individual and asks them to help, apparently it's then much more likely that they'll get help.

Was that not part of the by stander effect experiments?

Da Shins Kelly · 13-12-2011 03:03AM

flutterflye wrote: »

Was that not part of the by stander effect experiments?

Yeah, I think so. Someone may have mentioned it already, I haven't read all the posts.

Teenager attacked by teen in custody of HSE

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