Boys, 13 and 16, charged with arson

Two boys aged 13 and 16 years have been charged in connection with an arson attack on a house where they allegedly caused €150,000 worth of damages.

The pair appeared in the Dublin Children’s Court today charged with arson of a house at Woodhazel Terrace, in Ballymun, in Dublin, on April 21 last.

The younger boy, who was accompanied to court by his father, was aged 12 at the time of the alleged offence.

Prosecuting Garda Edel O’Sullivan said the teens made no reply when they were charged.

The court was told that the Director of Public Prosecutions had decided that the pair should be charged with arson and was urging that the case should not be retained in the jurisdiction of the Children’s Court but sent forward on indictment to the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court instead.

“€150,000 worth of damages was caused,” Judge Aingeal Ni Chonduin was told.

She granted legal aid to both boys but refused jurisdiction to keep the case in the Children’s Court and ordered that it should be sent forward to the Circuit Criminal Court.

Both boys, who are from north Dublin, were remanded on bail to appear again in October when they are to be served with books of evidence and returned for trial.

The younger boy, who has been residing in a care home, was ordered to continue residing there as a condition of his bail.

The second teenager, who was accompanied to court by his social worker, was allowed home on bail but ordered to obey a curfew between 9pm and 7.30 am.