A young man accused of an alleged homophobic attack on a young man traveling on a Dublin bus has fled the country to await trial.
According to BreakingNews, Mark Sheehan, 26, sustained facial injuries as he and his group boarded a bus home at around 4am in the Templeogue area of south Dublin on 18 August last year.
He had previously gone out with three friends to The George nightclub on Dame Street to celebrate two of their birthdays.
But after the accident on the return journey, he was taken to Tallaght University Hospital for treatment.
Gardaí launched an investigation.
A 17-year-old boy, whose name cannot be released as he is a minor, was later charged with assault causing harm to Mr Sheehan on the upper deck of bus No. 15 near Templeogue.
He appeared before Dublin Juvenile Court in November. Bail was set at €200 on his bail and the case adjourned for 10 weeks, reports BreakingNews.ie
The court had granted legal aid and ordered the availability of an interpreter for the teenager’s performances.
An evidence disclosure order was issued to the defense in preparation for a preliminary hearing this week to determine whether he will be tried in juvenile court or district court, which has wider adjudication powers.
However, when the case reopened, defense attorney Doireann McDonagh explained that the teenager was absent and had fled the country.
Judge Paul Kelly issued an arrest warrant for him. When the court first set bail, it ordered the teenager to observe a midnight to 6am curfew and report to Rathmines Garda train station twice a week, reports BreakingNews.ie
He was also warned not to have any direct or indirect contact with the applicant, including through social media, and to return to court to deal with the next scheduled stage of the proceedings.
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