A Dublin teenager has been jailed for 2 years for his part in a racist attack that left an Iraqi law student blind in one eye.

19 year old Aaron Shattock of Kingswood Heights, Tallaght pleaded guilty to assault causing harm in August 2013 at exit 11 of the M50.

19 year old DIT student Yasser Saud and his cousin were in a park in Tallaght when they were racially abused and subjected to a prolonged assault by a large gang of around 12 men.

One of their attackers was Aaron Shattock, then aged 17, who threw a stick at the DIT student, striking him in the right eye – robbing him of his sight.

Aaron Shattock is young, he has no previous convictions, he pleaded guilty to the assault and expressed remorse for what he has done.

Judge Martin Nolan called it 'perfect mitigation' but said he felt he had to impose a custodial sentence to mark the seriousness of this reprehensible attack.

He's handed down a 3 and a half year sentence with 18 months suspended.

He added that it gives him no pleasure that others equally morally culpable will probably escape the law.