Judge remands teen drug dealer 'running wild'

A 15-year-old drug dealer who carries a knife and associates with prostitutes has been taken off the streets for his own safety by a concerned judge.

Judge Michael Connellan said the boys was in debt to a drug dealer, associating with prostitutes, selling drugs at school and carrying a knife late at night.

The troubled boy had been back at the Children’s Court for a pre-sentence probation report to be furnished to the judge in relation to his case over an attack on a garda.

The attack, in July, occurred after the boy had been caught at 3.30am going to Leeson Street in search of a prostitute, the court had heard earlier.

Judge Connellan said yesterday the gardaí have raised concerns for the boy’s safety when he is out on the streets and added the probation report featured horrifying facts about the boy’s life.

“He is associating with prostitutes, carrying a knife, selling drugs at school and owes money to drug dealers,” he said as he revoked the teenager’s bail.

The court had heard earlier that the schoolboy had been stopped at 3.30am on July 12 last, on the Ranelagh Road, Dublin.

Detective Garda Richard Hampson had told the court that when he asked the young boy where he was going, he replied that he was going to Leeson Street to seek a prostitute.

It was decided that the teenager should be taken back to his home for his own safety, the court had heard.

At that stage the boy was not under arrest but as the garda car neared his home he became extremely aggressive and started to struggle.

His violent behaviour continued and he kicked the detective repeatedly leaving him with bruising on his legs.

The boy, who was supported in court by his mother, had pleaded guilty to the assault on the garda and had no previous convictions.

The court had heard that the boy’s mother was extremely worried about her son. Despite having achieved good results in his exams, his non-attendance of school had become a concern.

The boy was sometimes nervous, had difficulties in controlling his temper and lacked a male role model in his home, the court had also heard.

He had become violent after he became worried at the prospect of him being taken home to his mother by the gardaí.

When the case was brought back yesterday Judge Connellan noted that the probation report had numerous concerns for the teenager.

There was also a new charge before the court over the boy’s recent arrest for possession of a knife.

Detective Hampson also reported to the court that gardaí fear for the boy’s safety.

Defence solicitor Ms Eileen McCabe said there have been a number of difficulties in the boy’s family. It was planned that the boy would start specialized counseling for children who are “at risk”, she said, pleading for bail.

However Judge Connellan refused bail, saying: “He is running wild, his mother is doing her best, she gave up her job to look after him. He is associating with prostitutes, carrying a knife, selling drugs at school and owes money to drug dealers.”

“I am concerned that something might happen to him,” he said as he remanded the teenager in custody for an assessment saying he was doing so as a result of the concerns raised for the boy’s safety.