The child suspected of stabbing and seriously injuring a classmate will not be charged because of his age. 

Yesterday, Gardaí were called out to a primary school in North Dublin after a child was injured and taken to hospital. 

On Newstalk Breakfast, Irish Times Security and Crime Editor Conor Lally described it as “really shocking crime” as the children involved were only 11-years-old. 

“Both of them were in the same class in a primary school,” he said. 

“We know that Gardaí got the alert before 12 noon yesterday that there has been a serious incident. 

“When they arrived, the boy was actually undergoing medical care at the school. 

“He was actually brought to Temple Street Hospital, he had a stab wound to his back and it appears that this impacted one of his lungs and he had to undergo surgery last night. 

“So, while he hasn’t suffered life threatening or, indeed, life changing injuries, he was very unwell in Temple Street last night.” 

Doctors believe the child will make a full recovery and Gardaí have begun an inquiry into how he was attacked. 

“The boy suspected of being behind the incident has been identified and Gardaí have been in touch with both sets of parents,” Mr Lally said. 

“Because the child who is suspected of having carried out the stabbing is under the age of criminal responsibility, which is 12, it’s not a criminal investigation. 

“He can’t be charged with any crime.

“It appears this case will be dealt with, probably with the involvement of Tusla and both sets of parents.”

Criminal age of responsibility

A child of 10 or 11 can be charged if they are suspected of murder, manslaughter, rape or aggravated sexual assault.

If a suspect is nine-years-old or younger, they cannot be charged with any crime. 

“But this particular incident that took place yesterday, even though it was very serious, it wouldn’t meet the threshold for charging such a young child,” Mr Lally said. 

“This is a very unusual crime; we don’t really see children involved in incidents like this. 

“Children can be roped into being involved in organised crime - transporting drugs around, hiding drugs and so on. 

“But this kind of attack, where a person would be stabbed and they would sustain very serious injuries, this is very, very unusual for children.”

Gardaí have said they have no concerns about public safety.

Main image: A Garda police lamp sign. Picture by: Alamy.com.