Teen stole phone from ‘special needs’ person
By Brendan Grehan
A TEENAGER who robbed a smartphone off a teenager with special needs has been ordered to pay his victim compensation.
Jordan Ward’s co-accused had been sentenced to one month’s detention last July for his part in the incident.
Ward, aged 18, with an address at Sundale Avenue, Tallaght, had pleaded guilty to stealing a Samsung mobile phone worth €155 from a named male at Belgard Square South, Tallaght on August 21, 2014.
The court had heard that at 8pm on the above date, the injured party was standing at a bus stop in Tallaght when the two accused approached him and took his mobile phone.
He was before Judge Bridget Reilly for a probation report. Judge Reilly noted that the victim in the case had learning difficulties.
Ward’s solicitor, Michael Hennessy, said his client did not have any compensation in court.
Sergeant Eithne Madden said that Ward had two previous convictions.
At Dublin Circuit Court on October 16, 2014, he had been sentenced to five months detention for assault causing harm.
Mr Hennessy said his client now had an insight into the result of his actions and their effects on his victim.
Judge Reilly said: “Anybody with instincts that are human are most gentle when they are dealing with the very young or the very vulnerable.
The victim in this case had saved up to get his phone. The defendant approached the victim and asked him if he could look at his phone. The victim handed over the phone and then he ran off with it.”
She noted that Ward was saying that he had a problem with drugs and that he was a victim himself and added that he had failed to turn up for two meetings with the Probation service. She added: “I wonder how much insight he really has.”
She put the case back to second calling and said she was considering a custodial sentence.
When the case was recalled, Judge Reilly said she would put the case back to December for Ward to pay compensation and for a final probation report.
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