Enniskillen Court House, RMGFH03
A TEENAGER has been ordered to write a letter of apology to a younger teen whose hair she pulled on the way home from school one afternoon.
The youth, who cannot be name for legal reasons, appeared at Enniskillen Magisrates Youth Court on Wednesday having previously pleaded guilty to common assault in relation to the incident two years ago.
At approximately 3.30pm on Monday, November 10, 2014, a 13-year-old pupil was walking home from Erne Integrated College along the Cornagrade Road with a group of her friends, when an altercation took place involving a group of males and females.
During this altercation the pupil had her hair pulled and was kneed in the stomach by another girl, who she described as having dyed hair. The defendant, who was 16 at the time of the incident, later pleaded guilty to the offence.
Her defence solicitor Dara Monatgue explained the defendant had engaged with youth services regarding the incident, and was “very, very sorry” about what happened, but added the injured pupil had declined to engage with this process.
Ms Montague explained the teenage defendant had been “a victim of unwanted treatment” by others herself, and “fully realises it is not something that is welcome.”
In response to a comment from District Judge Nigel Broderick on the age difference between the two girls, Ms Montague said the teenager had been going through a bad time in her life at the time of the incident and “was on legal highs at the time.”
The solicitor said that phase in the teenager’s life was now behind her, however, was “physically and emotionally” better and was very well presented. She added the defendant had not come to police attention since the 2014 incident.
Judge Broderick said the youth’s pre-sentence report, carried out youth services, was very good and reflected a major change in her lifestyle, citing the fact she had a full time job was an especially significant change.
“Hopefully your offending and court appearances are now a thing of the past,” he said to her.
Judge approved the terms of a youth conference plan, which included provisions requiring the teenager to write a letter of apology to the injured girl and prohibited her from contacting the teen from contacting the girl except from the letter, including on social media.
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