No bail for teen accused of damaging church

A teenager charged with vandalising a church in Wicklow has been refused bail at the Dublin Children’s Court.

The 17-year-old, who cannot be named because he is a minor, appeared in court yesterday charged with criminal damage to the front door of St Fergal’s Church in Bray on August 23.

He also faced charges of stealing two hurleys and two baseballs from a shop in the town on August 21 and an alleged breach of the peace at a shop in Bray on a date last month.

Judge Deirdre Gearty heard that the teen, who was accompanied to court by his mother and his solicitor, was allegedly identified by gardaí who obtained CCTV evidence. The juvenile court was told it was alleged that the teenager had been in a group at the church and was “carrying a hurley”. It was also claimed he damaged the church’s front door.

He was stopped later that day with another person and he claimed they were on their way to a field to play hurling.

It was alleged that during the public order incident at a shop last month, the teenager had been refused entry and that he raised a hurley and threatened a security guard that he would “give him staples in your head”.

Bail was refused and the boy, who has not yet entered a plea, was remanded in custody to appear again in court next week.