Youth pleads guilty to charges in connection with gardai deaths

A 16-year-old youth who was a passenger in a sports car that killed two gardai has pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to three charges arising out of the incident.

The accused, who was 15 at the time, from Dublin's south inner city, admitted stealing a mobile phone, a set of car keys, two sets of house keys, a cheque and a wallet containing cash and bank and credit cards, from an apartment at Bullock Harbour, Dalkey, on April 14, 2002.

He also pleaded guilty to unlawfully taking possession of a mechanically propelled vehicle without the consent of the owner and knowing that the vehicle had been stolen allowing himself to be carried in it on the same date. He can't be named for legal reasons.

The accused and another youth, who was allegedly driving the stolen Mazda MX5, smashed straight in to a patrol car on the Stillorgan dual carriageway and instantly killed Gda Tony Tighe and Gda Michael Padden.

Mr Anthony Sammon SC, defending, told Judge Des Hogan that his client was serving a period of detention in Trinity House and asked that he be remanded there, otherwise he would be sent to St Patrick's Institution.

Mr Sammon said that the youth was doing well in Trinity House and he deserved the chance to continue his progress. Judge Hogan consented to the application.

Counsel added that because of the complex background to the case and the tragic deaths of Gda Tighe and Gda Padden, the evidence could take some time on the day.

Mr Fergal Foley BL, said that it might be an appropriate case to order victim impact reports on the families of the deceased gardai because there would be no doubt that they have been left severely traumatised by the deaths.

Judge Hogan agreed and adjourned the case until January 22 when evidence of the crimes would be given.

Mr Foley added that the second youth had been charged with manslaughter and was due before the court on December 11 for arraignment. He said that at this point it was anticipated that the youth was going to go for trial.