Warrant issued for boy, 14

A warrant has been issued by the Dublin Children’s Court for the arrest of a 14-year-old boy.

The out-of-school north Dublin boy failed to turn up for his hearing yesterday resulting in Judge Ann Ryan issuing a bench warrant for his arrest.

The boy had earlier pleaded not guilty to four charges. It is alleged he stole goods worth €165 from the Aldi store in Santry Avenue, in north Dublin, on November 5 last; and attempted to steal cars on October 2, October 10, and September 21 last, at Shangan Green, in Ballymun, Beaumont Green, and Lambay Road, in Drumcondra.

The north Dublin boy’s grandmother, with whom he resides, turned up for the case and told the Judge the teen had left her home on Wednesday night to stay with other relatives. She said she did not see him after that and “he said he would meet me here".

Defence solicitor Catherine Ghent said that in the circumstances she could not object to a bench warrant being issued and added that there were “a lot of concerns” over the boy.