Kill threat teen awaits sentence

A teenage boy, who spat blood into the face of a Garda then threatened to kill him and rape his wife and children, has been remanded on continuing bail to await sentence.

The boy, aged 17, who cannot be name because he is a juvenile, has pleaded guilty at the Dublin Children’s Court to 49 offences including a threat to kill as well as assault, trespassing, criminal damage, illegal driving, possession of drugs, skipping court and handling stolen property offences.

His offences occurred over the last year and three months and involved nine prosecuting gardai.

Reports from the Probation and Welfare Service and one from the boy’s training course showed that he had been making progress in his behaviour, Judge Catherine Murphy noted today.

In the month since his last court appearance he had not come to any negative Garda attention, the court was also told.

The boy’s father also said there had been a “phenomenal improvement” in his son.

Judge Murphy adjourned sentencing until January for updated reports on the boy.

He was then remanded on continuing bail with a number of conditions including a nightly curfew and restrictions on frequenting a number of areas in north inner city Dublin, where he had been getting into trouble previously.

Garda Amanda Lynch of Cabra Station had said they boy made the threat to kill Garda John Harrington, on March 29 last, at a petrol station on the New Cabra Road, in Dublin.

“Garda Harrington had initiated a search. The accused grabbed his arm and pulled his shirt. He spat blood into his face. In the patrol car he threatened the Garda saying that he would follow him home rape his wife and kids and put a bullet in his head.”

In another incident, on July 4 last, the teen was caught trespassing on private property at Ivy Court, in Beaumont, Dublin 9. He was in possession of a wheel brace which he intended to use to steal a set of alloy wheels from a car.