Influence of gang, family break-up blamed for boy's string of crimes

A 16-year-old boy, who committed a string of offences while he was involved with a teen gang, was yesterday remanded in custody pending sentence.

The north inner city Dublin teenager pleaded guilty at the Children’s Court to a spate of offences committed over the last year. It was his 19th criminal conviction.

Judge Catherine Murphy heard the out-of-school boy, who already had one previous theft conviction, had admitted 18 charges including possession of bolt cutters in connection with a theft, failure to comply with a garda’s direction under the Public Order Act, theft of a moped, three criminal trespasses, drug dealing, assault and theft from the person, five incidents of skipping court and three incidents where he was in possession of stolen mobile phones.

Judge Catherine Murphy was told yesterday that the teenager had committed a theft when he went on a trip to Donegal. The teen attacked a 16-year-old boy whom he had befriended and stole his mobile, in Bundoran, on May 2 last. The victim was punched and kicked as he lay on the ground.

The court also heard that on a later date, the teenager had been caught in possession of €1,750 worth of cannabis resin for the purpose of sale or supply.

Earlier the case heard that the teenager did not present in a troubled way when he did not associate with a gang in his area.

His problems had been compounded by the break-up of his family.

Judge Murphy remanded the boy, who was supported in court by his mother, in custody to St Patrick's Institution for sentencing in two weeks.

Earlier, the judge had heard that he had not gone to meetings with his probation officer nor attended a training course that had been arranged for him, as directed by the court.