Boy accused of ‘trashing’ grandparents’ home

A JUDGE has refused to grant bail to a 16-year-old boy who allegedly stole his grandparents’ car and “trashed” their home, leaving them terrified he might return.

The teenager is accused of criminal damage “to five internal bedroom doors and nine wardrobes” and theft of their car.

He allegedly caused about €1,200 worth of damages in the incident on July 21, the Dublin Children’s Court has heard.

Judge Ann Ryan was told yesterday that his grandparents, who had cared for him since early childhood, will not take him back.

“His grandparents no longer want him in their house, he has nowhere to go,” the court heard in a Garda objection to bail.

Judge Ryan heard that the HSE would provide emergency accommodation to the boy if he presented at a Dublin hospital. However, she noted that following his arrest last week, the boy had fled from social workers who had collected him from a Garda station.

The judge heard that the boy’s grandparents “are in extreme fear of him” and were afraid he would return to their house.

The boy’s mother was present for the case yesterday but said she could not “watch him 24/7”.

The judge refused bail and remanded the boy in custody to appear on Friday, saying the accommodation offered by the HSE “is not acceptable at all”.

She said a care plan would have to be drafted before bail was considered.

Last Friday, the boy’s grandfather had told the court: “We have looked after him since he was two, he’s always been difficult, but we hoped he would get out of it.

“In the last two months, his behaviour had drastically disimproved, he’s not coming in, he’s selling drugs from the home, telling me he is going to be shot by a drug dealer.

“He trashed my house,” he said, adding: “He needs detention, to be protected, he is at serious, serious risk.”

The teenager has already admitted possessing €800 worth of cocaine for sale or supply on March 15.