A YOUNG man who tried to stab a doorman on what a court heard was his first time to drink alcohol was given a chance to change the path he might go down.
The 17-year-old, who cannot be named because of his age, had previously pleaded guilty to two charges of assault and one charge of possession of an offensive weapon.
The offences took place on January 29 last when the accused and another man climbed over a wall to get access to an event at the Creamery Bar on The Square in Newcastle West.
As the teen was being escorted off the premises, the accused produced a knife and swung it at the pub doorman, cutting his jacket.
When the case came back before Judge Carol Anne Coolican in Newcastle West District Court, after being adjourned for a probation report, the judge was told that the night of the event was the first time the young man had ever drank alcohol and he had not touched it since.
Prosecuting the case, Inspector Gearoid Thompson said that the doorman who was attacked said he didn’t want to make any victim impact statement for the court.
The solicitor for the accused told the court that his client “has great support from his parents. His mother is in court with him, and support from his partner, who is expecting their first child.”
Reading the probation report, Judge Coolican noted that the probation officer recommended that she adjourn sentencing in the case to allow the young man take part in the Restorative Justice programme.
“He doesn’t remember anything about the incident, but the probation reports states that he shows remorse. He pleaded guilty,” Judge Coolican noted.
Also noting that the teen had no previous convictions, the judge said she would adjourn sentencing to June 4 “to allow him to explore the Restorative Justice project, which might help him stay away from going down the path he could be going”.
