Jail ‘saving teen from life on streets’

A sentencing judge said that one of the reasons a teenager was being kept in jail for the reckless burning of a building was to save him from homelessness.

Judge Seán Ó Donnabháin said the case was yet another one where the concept of care in the community effectively meant abandonment to where there was no community.

Kenneth McInerney was sentenced to 18 months imprisonment yesterday, backdated to November 2, 2013, when he went into custody, and with the 12 months suspended. On the basis of remission he should be released some time next month on condition that he keeps the peace and complies with the direction of the Probation Service.