The grandfather of Boy A has told the Central Criminal Court he was "totally heartbroken" that his much loved grandson could have been involved in the killing of Ana Kriégel.
The man was giving evidence on behalf of his grandson at a sentence hearing this morning.
Two teenagers, known as Boy A and Boy B, were convicted of murdering Ana in a derelict farmhouse in Lucan on 14 May 2018.
The grandfather began his submission by saying he wanted to first express his sincere and utter sympathy for the Kriégel family.
He said he could not imagine how devastating the loss of their daughter must be for them.
The loss of a child is a parent's worst nightmare, especially so given the horrific circumstances of Ana's death, he said.
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He said having listened to Ana's mother, Geraldine Kriégel, who spoke so elegantly and passionately about Ana, what he had to say today did not come close to anything he could say about Ana and the consequences of her death.
However, he said he would like to express "our sincerest regret and remorse" and said his grandson was "incredibly sorry for what has happened and wishes it had never occurred".
The man said he had been a teacher for 40 years, most of that time dealing with boys between the ages of 11 and 13.
He said this had given him an insight into boys of that age. He said it can be a difficult time for boys mentally and physically as they prepare for the transition to secondary school and gain their independence.
Some boys can be difficult to manage but the majority are not. He said his grandson was in the majority and had made the transition easily. He loved school and doing projects.
He added: "I am totally heartbroken that my much loved grandson could have been involved in such a terrible act."
He said he was a loving, caring child who was never in trouble for any reason and had never shown any aggression or ill temper. He was much loved by all members of his family.
"There will be a major gap in all our lives without his constant presence," he added. "Our lives have been turned upside down, we are all going through huge emotional turmoil and loss."
He said he would be a support to the boy's parents and family and added: "Looking to the future, I hope to have some positive involvement with his rehabilitation and development."
