Teen convicted of three burglaries in one hour

A 14-year-old boy was today convicted of taking part in three burglaries within the space of an hour, less than two months after he was put into a juvenile detention centre.

Dublin Children’s Court heard that the 14-year-old boy had pleaded guilty to taking part in the burglaries in Terenure on February 6, 2004.

Prosecuting Garda Kelly Dutton, of Sundrive Road Station, told Judge Angela Ni Chonduin that at approximately 5pm on February 6 last, the boy, who was acting with a two other youths, had broken into a house in Terenure.

She said he had broken in through a window and stole five gold chains and a diamond ring. A half an hour later the teenager broke into another house nearby, and stole a playstation console, as well as 10 playstation games, coins to the value of E100, a pair of trousers and a jumper.

Garda Dutton said that at 6pm that day, reports were received of another burglary on Melvin Road, in nearby Harold’s Cross, where the boy and two accomplices were arrested.

Initially he gave a false name to the garda but subsequent enquiries revealed his true identity, the court heard.

The diamond ring, taken in the first burglary, was the only item of stolen property not to be recovered, the court was also told.

Judge Ni Chonduin was told that the boy was taken to the garda station and detained under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act for questioning. His father had been contacted to come to the station, which he did; however he refused to sit in on the interview with his son.

A peace commissioner was brought the station and was present for the interview in which the teenager admitted the burglaries.

Judge Ni Chonduin asked to hear an outline of the 14-year-old boy’s previous convictions at which she was told that he already had 45 convictions, predominantly for burglaries, for which he had been given terms of detention by district courts in Leitrim, Clare and Mayo.

A summary of his criminal record was then read out to the court.

On December 11, last year, he was convicted at Clare District Court on four counts of escaping from lawful custody, theft, two counts of burglary, criminal damage, and one charge for skipping court, which resulted in a two year detention order being imposed.

On February 21, last year, at Ballinrobe District Court, Mayo, there he was convicted of 10 counts of burglary, one count of larceny of property from an unattended vehicle. He had been given the probation act on one of the burglary charges with all other charges taken into consideration.

On December 12, 2002, when he was 12, he was detained for two years at the Finglas Children’s Centre, by Ballinrobe District Court, for five charges of escaping from lawful custody, trespassing, theft and criminal damage to property.

On May 22, 2002, at Carrick-on-Shannon District Court, he was convicted of stealing E6,350, two larceny charges and 11 burglary charges.

Defence solicitor Ms Sarah Molloy told Judge Ni Chonduin that the teenager is currently serving a two-year detention order in the Finglas Children’s Centre. She said that he had pleaded guilty to the latest offences and had also admitted his responsibility when questioned by gardaí

She pleaded with the court to adjourn finalisation of the case pending a report on how the teenager is progressing in the detention centre.

Judge Ni Chonduin ordered the preparation of a probation report prior to sentencing the teenager and adjourned the case until a date in October.