Teenage girl was getaway driver for father and brother, court told

A 17-year-old girl burgled a house with her father and brother and then acted as the getaway driver, a court heard today.

The teenage girl pleaded guilty at the Children’s Court to taking part in the burglary at Cherryfield Road, in south Dublin, on November 4 last year. She also admitted two further charges for driving without a licence and insurance on the same date.

Garda Aidan Devenny said in evidence that the girl with her father and brother “entered the house as trespassers, a number of items, including a DVD player were interfered with but nothing was taken from the house”.

He said that their car, which the girl drove away from the scene, was stopped. The girl had been driving it without insurance or a licence.

He agreed with defence counsel Grainne O’Neill that the girl had no previous convictions and was co-operative when she was arrested.

Ms O’Neill said it was a first offence for the south Dublin girl who resides with her family. She said the defendant left school when she was 12 and has had no education since then.

Judge Bryan Smyth remanded the girl on bail for sentencing in July.

He also ordered a pre-sentence Probation and Welfare Service report on the girl and her background to be furnished to the court.