A Galway teen who is accused of assaulting a shop assistant who asked him for proof of age while attempting to buy a vape was warned that he’d better be the “best in class” when he comes back before the District Court in December.
Before Judge Fiona Lydon was Thomas Doyle (19 ) Bay 1, Tuam Road Halting Site, charged with the offence which took place at the Daybreak store on April 9 last.
Doyle was reprimanded for holding up Court proceedings by being absent when his case was called by the Judge. “We’ll all just wait until he decides to come,” the Judge said when he was located, and warned him that in future he was to sit in the body of the Court and wait until his case was called.
The Court heard how Doyle tried to buy a vape but was asked to prove his age before it could be sold to him. He then punched the shop assistant in the forehead.
The defendant has nine previous convictions, including two for robbery, but none for assault.
His solicitor admitted that his client’s current Probation report was “not great” and he had told him that he’d have to do a lot better.
Ordering an up-to-date report Judge Lydon warned Doyle: “You have to be best in class because I expect you to be best in class when you come back.” Sentencing was adjourned until December 3 to allow for the production of the new Probation report.
