One of the teenage boys found guilty of murdering schoolgirl, Ana Kriégel, has sacked his lawyers ahead of an appeal against his conviction which was due to take place today.

The 15-year-old, referred to in court as Boy B, was unanimously found guilty of murdering the “lonely and vulnerable” schoolgirl last June and was sentenced to 15 years detention, to be reviewed after eight years.

Boy A and Boy B, whose identities cannot be published as they are children, were just 13-years-old when they murdered 14-year-old Ana in May 2018.

Boy B lured Ana from her home, knowing that his friend was waiting to attack her in a derelict house in St Catherine’s Park in Lucan. He gave several different versions of events to gardaí, but eventually admitted seeing Boy A attacking Ana.

Now aged 15, they were unanimously found guilty of murder by a Central Criminal Court jury last June. Boy A was also convicted of Ana's aggravated sexual assault in a manner that involved serious violence.

Boy A was sentenced to life imprisonment with a review after 12 years, and eight years imprisonment for aggravated sexual assault.

Boy B had initially lodged an appeal against his conviction only, meaning no appeal was being sought against the severity of his sentence.

The Court of Appeal had fixed April 24 the hearing date for Boy B’s conviction appeal.

However, Boy B has since dismissed his legal team and has sought the services of a new team of lawyers. They will be seeking a new date for hearing in due course.

The earliest possible release date for Boy B is in June 2027.

Ana Kriegel

Sentencing the boys last year, Mr Justice McDermott said that the boys’ first period in detention would last until they were 18, when they will be transferred to an adult facility.

Mr Justice McDermott ordered that reports on the boys’ engagement with educational, psychological and psychiatric services be prepared to assist those taking over their custody.

Reports should then be prepared at two year intervals, chronicling what has happened, which would be available to the courts at the time of their review, the judge said.

After the boys' transfer to adult prisons in 2022, reports should be submitted in 2024, 2026 and 2028, he said.

"They are not reports for the purpose of micro-managing the sentences, it is for the courts to have a very clear view of what's happened during the course of their detention.”

How both boys faced up to their culpability while in custody would be a factor in determining how long they would eventually end up being detained, Mr Justice McDermott stated.