THE YOUNGEST IN a group of teenagers accused of attacking US tourist Stephen Termini who suffered “five life-threatening injuries” in Dublin last year has been sent forward for trial.

Three boys aged 15, 16 and 17, who cannot be named because they are minors, are accused of violent disorder and causing serious harm to Termini, 57, from Buffalo, New York.

Gardaí served a book of evidence on the 15-year-old at the Dublin Children’s Court this week.

Judge Paul Kelly granted a return-for-trial order, sending the boy forward on bail to the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. His case will be listed for mention on 18 July.

Judge Kelly already granted trial orders on 11 June for the two co-defendants to appear in the Circuit Court next week.

Termini, an artist and musician, was severely injured during an incident on the corner of Store Street and Talbot Street in the north inner city on the night of 19 July 2023.

The Children’s Court judge had refused jurisdiction to hear the case and agreed with the Director of Public Prosecutions that it must be dealt with at a higher level with broader sentencing powers.

Garda Sergeant Niall Godfrey had told a preliminary hearing that medical reports stated the injuries “created a substantial risk of death”.

Specialists found that the tourist had five life-threatening injuries to his right eye and a brain bleed, a head injury, a skull fracture, a traumatic brain injury and a fractured cheek.

He remained on a ventilator for two days and in an intensive care unit in Beaumont Hospital for two weeks before being moved to the Mater for further rehabilitative treatment until near the end of August.

Three high-quality CCTV clips of the incident were played during the hearing.

Garda Sergeant Godfrey alleged the now 16-year-old boy had been loitering at a nearby street and met the other two before 10.30 pm.

They went to the Store Street – Talbot Street junction, where they got into an altercation with Termini, who was walking past them.

A witness heard him say, “I don’t want to fight,” but “moments later, all three attacked Stephen Termini”.

Termini was knocked to the ground.

The video showed him lying motionless after the attack as two youths came back to check on him. One of them began to tap him on the face, but he did not regain consciousness.

Gardaí established that the teens did not alert the emergency services, but a witness made the call.