Two teenagers who attacked another three teens with acid in Waterford last year will not face criminal charges after an earlier decision to caution them instead has been upheld on review.
Tega Agberhiere (17), a youth player for
Waterford FC, suffered severe injuries to his face and body and his eyesight
was damaged when an unspecified acidic substance was thrown on him. Oisín Daly
(19) and Pádraig Sullivan were also injured.
All three victims suffered severe skin
burns in the incident last April in what their families say was a premeditated
attack.
Christie Agberhiere,
the mother of Tega who suffered very significant injuries to his face, back and
legs, said her son was coping in the best way he could.
“He is carrying on with this life but it
is very difficult,” she said. “When he wakes up every morning the scars are
still there. It’s physical and emotional; it’s distressing for him. The good
news is he’s alive.” Ms Agberhiere was speaking to Damien Tiernan, host of
the Deise Today programme, on WLR FM in Waterford.
The injured boys’ parents explained they
had met with representatives of the DPP’s office in Waterford Garda station
earlier this week.
They said that in December they had been
told two cautions under the juvenile liaison programme - which seeks to deal
with youth offenders in a manner that ensures they do not get a criminal record
- were issued for two of the teenagers involved.
Pádraig’s mother Shirley Sullivan said
they were told last month while one of the youths had been cautioned the other
caution for the teen believed to have thrown the acid was pending review.
However, when they met the DPP’s
representatives this week, the families were informed the caution that was
pending would now be served. It means the decision to deal with the chief
suspect by way of caution rather than to charge him with a criminal offence had
been upheld.
Ms Sullivan said she was very
disappointed as she believed the crime was so serious it warranted a criminal
conviction. She was also upset that the offence had been treated as disorder
rather than a serious assault that was premeditated and was determined to
continue campaigning for justice.
“This was grievous bodily harm and for
these boys to do this and get a slap on the wrist… One of these boys got a gang
together, he went to another estate [where they did not live] and the other boy
threw the acid,” she said.
The parents of the victims believe four
perpetrators, not two, were involved in the incident which occurred in the
Earls-court housing estate.
Ms Agberhiere said her son Tega had been
very badly injured to his face which had left scarring he could never cover up.
She did not know what emotional impact it would have on him in the years to
come.
She also said the caution that had been
pending review could not be served on the teenage perpetrator it was intended
for because he was now abroad working.
Both Ms Agberhiere and Ms Sullivan said
they were seeking justice for their sons. And they believed the perpetrators
should be charged and brought before the courts where a judge and jury could
decide the outcome.
SOURCE: THE
IRISH TIMES:
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