Schoolgirl thieves attacked teenager 'like dogs'
Thursday July 27 2006
Hazel Doyle, Sarah Anne Smith and Leanne Spellman, all from Tallaght, have been told by Judge Miriam Reynolds at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court they face prison unless they each bring €500 to court for their 16-year-old victim "to compensate in some way for your behaviour".
The three were dressed in their school uniforms when they followed their victim from a bus on Balfe Road, Crumlin, on May 16, 2005, dragged her to the ground, pulled her hair, bit her and kicked her before they stole her phone and MP3 player.
Doyle (16), of Corbally, Westbrook; Smith (17), of Kilcarrig Green, Fettercairn; and Spellman (17), of Kilmartin Drive, also Fettercairn pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to robbery.
Judge Reynolds said it was a "very, very serious crime" against a young girl who was minding her own business when they "attacked her like dogs".
In her victim-impact report, the girl said her whole lifestyle changed as a result of being attacked. She was afraid any time someone walked behind her and often got off the bus early because she feared an attack.
"This is a wonderful start in life for three young girls and you should be thoroughly ashamed of yourselves," the judge told Doyle, Smith and Spellman.
She warned all three that they would never be able to travel to the United States or around the world because of their criminal conviction and that, in that way, they had "joined many well-known gangsters".
Judge Reynolds remanded them on bail for sentence later after ordering them to each produce €500. "But this is not to be a gift from your parents or put together by your brothers and sisters. You are to get summer jobs and put the money together yourself and I want proof of that," she told them.
Victim
Garda Michael Redmond told the court that after the attack the victim managed to hold onto one of the girls but let her go after she said she would get the phone back.
The victim then ran after the other two girls but was attacked by them again.
The victim described the uniforms the girls were wearing, which led to the school they attended being contacted.
Doyle, Smith and Spellman offered their "sincere apologies" to the victim. They had all completed their Junior Certificate and are to remain in school next term to begin their Leaving Certificate courses.
- Sonya McLean
