The boys are the youngest people in the history of the State to be convicted of murder.
Two teenagers known only as Boy A and Boy B have today been sentenced for the 2018 murder of 14-year-old Kildare schoolgirl Ana Kriégel.
Boy A will spend the rest of his life in detention for the murder, with a review into his sentence to take place after 12-years, Judge Paul McDermott told the Central Criminal Court.
He was also convicted of aggravated sexual assault and will serve a concurrent term of eight years.
Meanwhile, Boy B is to serve 15 years in detention with a review after eight years.
BREAKING: BOY A has been sentenced to life imprisonment for the murder of Ana Kriegel. The judge has ordered for a review to take place after a twelve year period has expired to decide whether he should be released or serve a further sentence.
— Frank Greaney (@FrankGreaney) November 5, 2019
In handing down his sentence, Mr. J Paul McDermott said the life of a deceased person can sometimes be deflected by the evidence during the course of a trial, but he began the delivery of his lengthy judgement by reminding the court that Ana Kriegel’s life was of supreme importance, and central to this hearing.
He told the boys they must bear responsibility for her murder and must accept the consequences.
The Children Act states that a period of detention for a child offender is a last resort, but he said it couldn’t be avoided here – such was the seriousness of what he described as the cold and callous murder of Ana at a derelict farmhouse in Lucan on May 14th last year.
BREAKING: Boy B detained for 15 years, with review after eight years.
— Michael O'Toole ???? (@mickthehack) November 5, 2019
He said both boys showed no remorse for their actions and told them directly that they must carry the guilt and shame of their involvement.
Boy A's mother burst into tears and hugged her son after the sentences were handed down.
The boys, now aged 15, were found guilty in June of Ana's murder, whose naked body was found in an abandoned farmhouse in Lucan, Co. Dublin, on May the 14th 2018 after being reported missing by her parents.
The court heard the two boys disagree about many of the details and there is still no clear explanation for what happened.
Both boys have been granted lifelong anonymity due to their age.
