Teens Charged With Assault Of Parents Protecting Their Gay Son
Youths charged with assault against couple trying to protect their gay son.
(Photo: Irish Times)
A group of youths have been charged with assault against a couple who were trying to protect their homosexual son. The couple responded to the group of youths who were standing outside their home shouting homophobic slurs at their son. The woman alleges she was punched, kicked, and had a cigarette stubbed out on her face, while her husband had been knocked out by another of the youth who repeatedly punched and kicked him in the head.
Following a hearing at Dublin Children’s Court yesterday, the girls – aged 16 to 17 – were found guilty of ‘committing a violent disorder’.
The couple explained to the court that there was a group of teenage boys outside their house who were ‘very angry’ and teasing their son about his sexuality. The mother said that when she came outside her house to confront the youths, three teenage girls ‘came running’ at her ‘screaming and shouting “who the eff do you think you are”’.
The teenage girls pled not guilty to the charges, however admitted to the court they had been drinking heavily before the incident.
During the hearing, Judge John O’Connor told two of the teenage girls that the Probation Act would be considered for their sentencing if they wrote a letter apologizing to the parents. Meanwhile, the youth who allegedly stubbed out a cigarette on the woman’s face has been remanded on bail and is scheduled for sentencing in April.
-by Sarah Furlong
