The Central Criminal Court has heard today how a 14-year-old boy raped his six-year-old male cousin.

The teenager, who is now 15, is to be sentenced on Friday for the attack in Dublin on April 2, last year.

The parents of the six-year-old boy were lying in bed when they heard noises from the toilet where their son was being raped by his older cousin.

During the brief attack, the teenager stopped the child's brother from entering the bathroom by telling him they were playing wrestling.

He later told gardaí he did not know why he had done it, and that he had heard boys talk about it in school, knew it was wrong but did not think anyone would find out.

In a statement, the victim's mother said her son wets his bed, has nightmares and bangs his head to get the dreams away.

The court heard the teenager's parents are chronic drug users and he is now in the care of the HSE.

His lawyers are asking the court to consider therapy rather than detention.

Sentencing will be finalised on Friday.