Friday, January 31, 2014
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IN CINEMAS TODAY
MetroLife goes to the movies – the latest films reviewed
WIN! Tickets to Arctic Monkeys gig »p14
»p15
A father’s ’s rage
A DUBLIN youth, who took part in a vicious gang attack on a jogger set upon because he kicked an angry dog, has been given a dressing down in court by his own father. The teenager pleaded guilty at the Children’s Court to assault causing harm to the man who was left traumatised and scarred after the attack on January 21 last, in north Dublin. The youth showed no remorse and his father told Judge John O’Connor he was fed up helping his son, whom he said wants to go to prison. The boy sat silently as his father, seething with rage, addressed the court and told Judge O’Connor: ‘I killed myself trying to get him on the straight and narrow.’ He said his son told him ‘I am going to Wheatfield’, referring to the Clondalkin prison, and added: ‘that is not normal behaviour’. The father also explained he had to pay off local drug dealers for his son, who is also suspected of taking part in a serious burglary earlier this week. He said the youth has been causing
by tom tuite
problems for the past three or four years, and he looked straight at his son before telling him: ‘it feels like you are spitting on my face’. The father also told his son: ‘you have more time for the scum on the street than your family who love you.’ Judge O’Connor adjourned sentencing until next month. Earlier, a pre-sentence report had shown the youth had no remorse or empathy for his crime, was at a high risk of re-offending and badly needed to be involved in pro-social activities. Defence solicitor Gareth Noble also told the court of the efforts the boy’s father had made to help his son. Pending sentencing, the youth must continue to work with the Probation Service to address his offending, go to counselling for his drug abuse problem, engage with a training course and a youth mentoring service. The boy, on bail, was warned by the judge he is at ‘last chance saloon’ and facing a possible six-month sentence.
‘It feels like you are spitting on my face’
A HORSE OF MANY COLOURS: A performer in traditional costume on the eve of the Lunar New Year, or Spring Festival, takes part in a park fair in Beijing yesterday. The Chinese Year of the Horse, according to the symbol of the 12-year cycle of animals, begins today PICTURE: EPA
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IN CINEMAS TODAY
Keep Dublin tidy – Please recycle this Metro Herald when you are finished with it