A Judge has granted Gardaí more time to get directions from the DPP on the case of three teenagers charged with attacking US tourist Stephen Termini in Dublin.
The 57-year-old was seriously injured during the incident on the corner of Store Street and Talbot Street on July 9th.
He was in a coma in Dublin's Beaumont Hospital before he was discharged in August.
Three boys - aged 14, 15 and 16, who cannot be named because they are minors - were charged during the summer with assault causing harm to Mr Termini, who is from Buffalo, New York.
Judge Paul Kelly noted at the Dublin Children’s Court that Gardaí had submitted a file to the Director of Public Prosecutions earlier this month, and directions were still awaited.
Counsel for two boys submitted that it was "dragging on" and asked the Judge to mark the case peremptory against the State.
The court heard that there was also more correspondence between the DPP and the Garda juvenile diversion office.
The judge acceded to the request, meaning the directions must be ready when the case continues in four weeks.
Bail terms
The boys, accompanied to court by family members and support workers, were remanded on continuing bail.
With Garda consent, the court allowed minor adjustments to their residency locations over Christmas.
The bail terms include a curfew, being contactable 24 hours a day by phone and not associating or communicating with each other.
They have also been ordered to stay off Talbot Street, Railway Street and James Joyce Street.
Earlier in the proceedings, one of the boys had bail revoked for a week for breaking the terms.
A ruling has yet to be made as to whether the case will remain in the Children's Court or go forward to the Circuit Court, which has broader sentencing powers.
They have yet to indicate how they will plead.
Reporting by: Tom Tuite
