Teen ordered to obey 24-hour curfew to ‘protect public’

A 16-year-old youth described by a senior garda as a high risk to society and a nuisance to businesses in Tralee has been ordered to abide by a 24-hour curfew “to protect the public”.

There is no place available for the youth in the Oberstown detention centre and the youth is also awaiting medical and psychological assessments, the court was told.

The youth was before the circuit court on a charge of sexual assault on another youth. He also has a number of public order offences at the district court for which he was remanded on bail last year and told by the judge to abide by a curfew and stay away from the town centre.

He has breached the bail conditions of curfew and of staying away from the town centre a number of times.

At the children’s court yesterday at Tralee District Court Supt Jim O’Connor said the State was forced to bring the case back into court as the youth is still going into the town centre and still disobeying the curfew.

“We have numerous complaints from businesspeople and shopkeepers and members of the public about this young man’s presence and behaviour in the town centre,” said Supt O’Connor

Despite pleas from defence solicitors, Judge James O’Connor said that public safety must take precedence.

The court was told there is an issue on whether he will be fit to plea at the circuit court trial.

When explained to the youth that he will have to obey a 24-hour curfew and stay at home he replied: “My mother will have to get me a PlayStation.”