The parents of Boy B have spoken out for the first time, claiming their son isn't a monster but 'stupid' for his involvement in the murder of Ana Kriégel.
In a case that shocked the nation, Ana was tragically killed in May 2018 when she was sexually assaulted and beaten in an abandoned house in Lucan, West Dublin.
The young girl was 14 at the time and her killers were just 13 and granted lifelong anonymity at the trial.
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Boy B led her to the house where Boy A viciously beat her to death.
Now, Boy B’s parents have spoken out for the first time since he was found guilty.
Taking place at the family’s home, they claim to Mail on Sunday that he isn’t the ‘monster’ others are making out.
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The parents also say he is no murderer but do agree he is a ‘stupid boy’ for being involved in the tragic death of Ana.
They say Boy B was so shocked when Boy A attacked the girl that he was then too scared to do anything to stop it.
His dad said: "I asked, ‘Why didn't you help her?’ He said: ‘I couldn't because I froze. My brain completely froze and I couldn't do it. What [Boy A] was doing to her...’
“He said ‘I didn't know what to do’.”
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He added: "I do not want the Kriégel family to think that I am trying to take anything away from their pain. I am not," he said.
"For us, as parents, we know what the boy is like. But the country, the world, does not. For us talking to you now, it’s just to let people know… that our child isn’t this monster that people are calling him."
Boy B was sentenced to 15 years for Ana’s murder, but his sentence is to be reviewed in eight years' time.
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Boy A was sentenced to life for the murder and also to 12 years for aggravated sexual assault.
When he turned 18 last year, Boy B was moved to the same adult prison as Boy A but the Irish Sunday Mirror reported they are ‘not on friendly terms’ and ‘no longer talk’.
At the time of their sentence in 2019, the pair of teenage boys became the youngest convicted murderers in the history of the State.
Following release from prison, both boys will be given new identities.
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If you have been affected by any of the issues in this article and wish to speak to someone in confidence, contact The Survivor’s Trust for free on 08088 010 818, or through their website thesurvivorstrust.org
Jess Battison