Youth 'unaware car was stolen'

A youth who unwittingly bought a stolen car has been given the probation act and let off without a criminal conviction.

The 17-year-old pleaded guilty at the Dublin Children’s Court to unlawfully using the stolen car at Fonthill Road, Clondalkin, on May 10 last.

The court heard evidence that the car was being “driven erratically on a green area”. When gardaí arrived and questioned him he said he did not believe he had been doing anything wrong as he owned the car and had not been driving it on the roads.

However a check of the car, which the teen said he “bought from members of the travelling community”, proved it had been stolen.

His solicitor Michelle Finan said he understood the charge was serious; he had learned a lesson and was actively looking for work

Judge Bryan Smyth noted that the teen had pleaded guilty, had no previous convictions and that the owner of the car was not left at any loss and applied the Probation Act releasing him.