Helicopter and 50 garda cars chase boy across city

MORE than 50 Garda cars and a police helicopter were involved in a high-speed chase with a 16-year-old boy across west Dublin in the early hours of yesterday morning.

The teenager was arrested and charged at the Children’s Court with the theft of the car in the Clondalkin area yesterday morning.

Garda John Walsh, of Blanchardstown station told Judge Ann Ryan the teenager made no reply to the charge after he was arrested.

He went on to tell the judge the “traffic pursuit lasted 40 minutes, he was the sole occupant of the car”.

During the drive there were “numerous counts of dangerous driving” and three traffic accidents.

The boy’s mother told Judge Ryan: “I saw the chase last night and my nerves were gone. I got a feeling it was him.”

Her son, she said, had received a telephone call at about 2am from a “so-called friend, obviously they are after running and leaving him, he should have known better though”, she said.

Garda Walsh also notified the court that a bench warrant was executed against the boy over his failure to attend a case for a motor theft offence last month.

However, he accepted the boy’s mother, who was in court, had been making efforts to have the benchwarrant dealt with prior to his arrest yesterday. Judge Ryan said it was obvious the boy’s mother was very concerned and was taking matters very seriously.

“I cannot say the same for her son, given the allegations before the court of what happened, the sole occupant of the car, a 40-minute chase involving the Garda helicopter.”

She agreed to grant bail subject to strict conditions. The teenager, who was granted legal aid, was ordered to obey a 9pm to 7am curfew at his home and to sign on daily at Ronanstown Garda Station.

She stressed the teenager would be remanded in custody if he breached the terms of his bail, adding “It is entirely in your own hands what happens to you.”

She noted that the Gardaí were seeking a lengthy remand given the number of Garda units involved in the incident and adjourned the case until April until directions from the DPP could be obtained.