Longford brothers will stand trial in relation to violent attack which left victim with fractured skull

Two teenage brothers will go on trial after the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) gave its approval for the pair to be prosecuted in connection with a violent county Longford train station assault that left another teenage boy hospitalised and in a serious condition.

The siblings, who are aged 18 and 17, were arrested and charged with assault causing harm days after the alleged attack on April 6 at Edgeworthstown Train Station.

The brothers cannot be identified due to the age of the younger accused.

Sgt Enda Daly, court presenter, informed Judge Bernadette Owens at Longford District Court on Tuesday the DPP had given the green light for the two brothers to be sent forward for trial.

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The alleged victim was left with a fractured skull, a bleed on his brain and bruising on his head and body following the incident.

Gardaí stated that the alleged attack was captured on CCTV and a clawhammer was produced and used by one of the alleged attackers to strike the injured party.

After the alleged assault, the four assailants fled the scene and the injured party was taken to Mullingar hospital, before later being transferred to Beaumont Hospital after a deterioration in his condition.

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During the course of the assault, the court heard, the injured party was punched twice to the face and 16 times to the back.

Defence solicitor Fiona Baxter told Judge Owens on Tuesday she would be looking for the case to be given priority ahead of the servicing of books of evidence and before the sitting of Longford Circuit Criminal Court in November.

Judge Owens said the court was required to enable the younger of the two accused had the protection of a Section 75 of the 2001 Children's Act hearing before he could be sent forward.

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Those sittings heard by a district court judge consider the defendant's young age and level of maturity and any other notable information and they must proceed before a final decision is reached to send an accused minor forward for trial.

The youngest accused brother has made no bail application since being taken into custody and he is currently at Oberstown Children Detention Campus, while his older brother is subject to strict bail conditions.

The younger accused sibling was remanded in continuing custody by Judge Owens on Tuesday until September 24 for the Section 75 hearing, while his older brother was remanded on continuing bail until October 22 for the service of a book of evidence.

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