Teen with 30 convictions jailed

A 15-year-old boy, who now has 30 criminal convictions, has been detained for two years by Judge Catherine Murphy at the Dublin Children’s Court.

The repeat teen offender, who received his first criminal conviction when was aged 11, had pleaded guilty to travelling as a passenger in a stolen car, on the Drumcondra Road, Dublin, on January 27 last.

Judge Murphy told the boy today that by detaining him the Trinity House Detention centre: “There is so much they can do for you there in terms of drugs and alcohol addiction and literacy skills.”

He already had 29 previous convictions: nine burglaries, three assaults, four larcenies, five for escaping from custody, as well as others for public order violations and violent behaviour in a garda station.

The court heard that the boy, who has not been in school for several years, had developed a drug addiction problem.

He is originally from the west of Ireland but his family had been living in Dublin in recent years.

Defence solicitor Sarah Molloy told the court that lately the boy’s parents had moved out of Dublin in a hope to keep him out of trouble and because he was using drugs.

“But the attraction to come back to Dublin was huge and he developed a serious drug addiction,” she said.

The boy has also sought assistance for his drug addiction, the court heard.

At most of his court appearances he has been supported during the proceedings by his parents. However, no members of his family were in court today when he was sentenced.