The boy who murdred and violently sexually assaulted Ana Kriégel when he was 13 has no personality disorder or mental illness, the Central Criminal Court has heard.
However psychiatric reports say "much work" needed to be done for him to fully realise the consequences of his actions.
Counsel for Boy A told the court his client was just 13-and-three-quarters and only out of primary school 12 months when the offence occurred.
Senior Counsel Patrick Gageby said the boy had never come to garda attention and had never been in any trouble. His good behaviour had continued while in detention and he was studying for his Junior Cert next year.
It was far from the case that he came from a dysfunctional family, quite the reverse, Mr Gageby said.
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He said the court had been given a number of reports which all indicate admissions by him that he caused the death of Ana Kriégel.
They also indicate in the "clearest possible terms that there were no environmental causation and that he comes from a small, close, loving and supportive family".
He said it was also clear and was manifest in the trial that "he was far from calm and collected in the aftermath" of Ana's murder.
There was nothing to indicate in reports from two psychologists and a psychiatrist that he had a personality disorder or mental illness, Mr Gageby said.
He added that one report noted substantial remorse and tears when the subject was being discussed.
Mr Gageby said all of the reports said there is "much work to be done in relation to this young man and bringing him to the full realisation of the consequences of his actions that day."
He said a high level of intervention was warranted perhaps spread out over years.
He said it was open to the court to impose either a fixed or indeterminate sentence and later review it. A portion of the sentence could also be served under supervision, he said.
He said the court was looking at someone of "extraordinary youth, perhaps unparalleled in the legal history of this country" and any sentence would have to chart a course which is both punitive and deterrent but also a course for rehabilitation.
The court would have to consider how long it would take for the boy to come to terms with his offending behaviour, he said.
The second boy convicted of the murder of Ana Kriégel - known as Boy B - does not accept the jury's verdict, the Central Criminal Court was told.
Counsel for Boy B said because of this, he was limited in what he could say in his submissions during today's sentence hearing.
Senior Counsel Damian Colgan said the court had been given extensive reports including one from a psychologist. It was clear that he had settled well in detention and was attending school, Mr Colgan said.
Mr Colgan said the reports said he was at low risk of reoffending and detailed his suicidal tendencies. They also described his expressions of remorse and guilt for not intervening to assist or save Ana Kriégel.
"This is a matter he will have to live with for the rest of his life," Mr Colgan said.
He also said there had been a clear falling out between the boy and his father over what he would have been expected to do on the day in question.
The boy's father was not present in court for the sentence hearing.
The court was told there were no issues with drugs or alcohol and Boy B had no previous convictions.
He asked the judge to take into account his immaturity at the time of the offence and to be as lenient as possible.
Prosecuting Counsel Brendan Grehan later referred to the risk of reoffending outlined in the psychiatric report and said that view was written in the context of him maintaining his innocence.
Mr Grehan said the report also stated that if there was evidence of Boy B being involved in the planning of violent acts then this risk assessment would have to be revised.
Mr Grehan said the court would have to sentence based on the evidence before it during the trial and not on any accounts that have come into existence since then.
