Ireland Young Dumb and Dangerous Episode 1

Youth crime affects everyone in society, but for those it directly touches, it can be devastating. This new series asks how best to deal with Ireland’s young, dumb and dangerous.

Since 2014, figures show there has been an increased number of assaults on our streets. The vast majority of these occur between Friday and Monday, a weekend glut of physical assaults, violent robberies and general disregard for the law. Our nation’s youth are hugely overrepresented when it comes to these violent crimes with 50% of serious assaults being carried out by people under the age of 30. Youth crime affects everyone in society, but for those it directly touches, it can be devastating. Victims and their families are left to pick up the pieces, but for society at large the question remains – how best to deal with Ireland’s young, dumb and dangerous?

Telling the stories of the perpetrators and their victims with first-hand accounts, expert witnesses, investigating officers, archive and reconstruction, we will provide engaging and shocking accounts of contemporary crimes by and for the target audience. The series is being made with the co-operation of An Garda Síochána and the PSNI and will feature topics including one-punch assaults, ultra-violence and feral youths.

EPISODE ONE: ONE-PUNCH ASSAULTS

One-punch assaults and killings have been making headlines in Ireland for the last decade: they are most frequently committed by young intoxicated individuals on random victims who have also been on a night out. Alcohol is often the catalyst to the attack and the serious or fatal injuries that result. Families are left devastated and courts have to balance the circumstances with the consequences when determining sentence.

Eugene Moloney (55) the journalist was punched in the neck by stranger Gary Burch (21) in a chance encounter on Camden Street in Dublin while making his way home after a night out on 24 June 2012.

James Tynan (25) was killed in a single punch by Jason Morrissey (22) – 19 Feb 2012, Thurles Tipperary. James had gone to Thurles with friend and was standing outside on the footpath in front of a nightclub. Morrissey walked toward him, increased his speed and struck him with a clenched fist. The Toomevara criminal had 85 previous convictions.

Darren McBrearty (28) was killed after being attacked outside Tipplers’ Bar in John Street, Omagh on 4 August 2013. Christopher McLean (18) – a former youth boxer – threw a punch at Darren –witnesses said Darren fell backwards like a plank while McLean clenched his fists and yelled “boom”. McLean pleaded guilty to manslaughter and received 18 months in November 2014.