Image: Sasko Lazarov/RollingNews.ie Image: Sasko Lazarov/RollingNews.ie A 13-YEAR-OLD Dublin boy has appeared in court accused of torturing a hedgehog to death in a 35-minute attack.
The teenager was granted legal aid and ordered to appear again in July when he will be expected to formally indicate how he is going to plead.Garda Gemma Twohig told Judge Treasa Kelly that the boy made no reply when she charged him with injuring a protected wild animal, and causing or permitting unnecessary suffering endangering the health and welfare of an animal.
In an outline of the allegations, Garda Twohig said it was alleged the boy killed the hedgehog on the grounds of a school and there was CCTV of the incident. The boy, who did not address the court, nodded when Judge Kelly urged him to continue co-operating with the scheme and to work to get good reports.