Teen actor gives 'unconvincing performance' in witness box

Sentencing of a teenage actor found guilty of handling a stolen satellite navigation unit and mobile phone, after a judge a found his performance in the witness box unconvincing, has been adjourned.

Judge Ann Ryan adjourned the case at the Dublin Children’s Court until next March for an up-date probation report on him to be furnished. She noted that the teenager, who is on bail, had commenced a training course and was getting help from the Probation Service.

The teen’s mother reported to the court that she had seen a huge improvement in her son. “He’s great, a totally different attitude, he’s better he knows now what he wants in life,” she said.

In October, the 15-year-old boy had been found guilty of handling the stolen satellite navigation unit and mobile phone, contrary to the Theft and Fraud Offences, in Finglas, on a date last September, by then presiding Judge Hugh O’Donnell who was unconvinced by his performance in the witness box.

Garda Sam Warnock and a colleague had said they saw the boy and other youths exiting a Dunne Stores’ car park.

“On seeing the Garda car he retreated into the car park and threw something behind a wall,” Garda Warnock said. The boy attempted to flee when he was searching behind the wall where the stolen goods were found.

The north Dublin teen denied the allegations calling the gardaí “liars".

“They jumped out and grabbed me, you are lying,” he had said.

The boy had been let off by the courts by getting the Probation Act three times previously for two theft charges and one criminal damage offence.

Explaining his decision to convict the boy the judge had said: “I am satisfied with the Garda evidence; I do not find him a credible witness. I believe the State’s case, I do not believe your client.”

The teen had also admitted driving a moped without a licence or insurance in Finglas in September last year.

Defence solicitor Sarah Molloy said that educational assessments had found that the boy was operating at a low intellectual level.

She also said that he had been involved in acting, was talented at it and as a result had starred in a number of productions.