A 16-year old Co Clare youth took a photo of his alleged assault victim while lying on the ground before stamping on the man’s head for a second time, a court has heard.
At the Children’s Court in Ennis, Det Garda Paul Coleman said that the youth was “front and centre” in the alleged assault of two males at Shannon on October 26th 2025.
Det Coleman told the court that the level of violence used “was considerable”.
Det Coleman said that despite the madness and chaos of the alleged assaults, there was consideration to maximise the extent of the damage on one of the two victims where the victim was dragged from the grass to a pavement before being stamped on the head by the accused.
Det Coleman and Garda Colette Acton laid out the State case against the teenager in relation to three alleged assaults in Shannon in May and October 2025 to allow Judge Adrian Harris to decide if he would hear the case in the children’s court or send the charges before Ennis Circuit Court.
After hearing evidence concerning the three alleged assaults, Judge Harris declined jurisdiction and the youth – now aged 17 – will go forward to Ennis Circuit Court.
Recounting the first October 26th assault at Brú na Sionna in Shannon, Det Coleman said that the accused ran at pace at the injured party, punched him to the face, held him close to the ground and attempted to stamp twice on his head before kicking him in the face again.
Det Coleman said that the accused then picks the man up “and appears to try to pound his head at the paved ground once and this is followed by three to four quick punches to the face”.
Det Coleman said that the 16 year old then drags the injured party and tries to pound his head off the paved ground twice and then knees him in the face.
The Detective said that the accused stamps twice on the head of his alleged victim.
He said that the assault “is controlled and considered” and the alleged offender waits until the injured party can’t hold his hands up to protect his head or his face.
Det Coleman said that concerning a second assault in another part of Brú na Sionna on the same date, overhead mobile phone footage taken by a resident shows an adult striking the victim eight times to the head while the accused appears to stamp on his head.
The detective said that the accused takes a photograph of the victim while lying on the ground with his phone and then stamps once more on his head.
Solicitor, Stiofán Fitzpatrick said that his client was in the throes of addiction at the time and Det Coleman said that the CCTV footage shows that the accused didn’t appear to be impaired at the time of the assaults.
Det Coleman said that both victims were intoxicated and unable to defend themselves.
Mr Fitzpatrick said that his client is in gainful employment and has not come to the attention of Gardai since.
In relation to a separate alleged assault on May 5th 2025, Garda Colette Acton said that it will be alleged that the teenager assaulted the owner of the Carry Out off licence at Drumgeely in Shannon after the owner gave chase in response to the accused stealing a pack of Bulmers from the off licence.
Garda Acton said that it will be alleged that the teenager attempted to bite the off-licence owner on the face and pulled him by the head down and bit him on the back
She said that it is also alleged that the then 16 year old got his hands on a hurley and struck the man three times.
Garda Acton said that she met with the alleged injured party that day and he was really shaken and had a large bump to the left hand side of his forehead.
She said that a medical report on the victim showed that he had injuries consistent with a sustained violent attack and had to receive a tetanus injection for the bite.
