Teen who killed schoolmate needs brain surgery, sentence hearing told

A teenager convicted of manslaughter in connection with a fatal stabbing in County Mayo has had his sentencing adjourned pending brain surgery. The Central Criminal Court in Dublin heard that the defendant, who cannot be identified due to his age, has developed epilepsy causing multiple daily seizures and is currently unfit for custody. The 17-year-old was found guilty of manslaughter, not murder, following a trial at the court sitting in Castlebar. The victim, Dovydas Jenkas of Claremorris, died from a single stab wound on 19 December 2015. Medical evidence from a consultant neurologist indicated the defendant has a localised brain lesion requiring surgery within three to four months, with subsequent observation periods making immediate imprisonment inadvisable. Justice Eileen Creedon adjourned the matter to 24 July for a further update on the defendant's medical situation.