Teen remanded in €150,000 heroin case

A 16-year-old boy charged last week in relation to a drug seizure in Dublin worth €150,000 was today further remanded in custody after his mother failed to attend his bail hearing.

The boy, who cannot be identified because he is a juvenile, had been charged at the Dublin Children’s Court with possessing a quantity of heroin for sale or supply to another, at Neilstown Drive, in Clondalkin, in Dublin, on Sunday, December 9 last.

On Monday last week, the court heard that the boy, who was then accompanied to court by his mother, made no reply when he was charged.

The west Dublin teen was granted legal aid and the court was told that there was a garda objection to bail.

Defence solicitor Sarah Molloy said a bail application was not being made at that stage.

The teenager was then remanded in custody to St Patrick’s Institution to appear again today.

However, when the case was called yesterday morning Ms Molloy asked Judge John O’Neill to have the case recalled later. She said she would make efforts to contact the boy’s mother who was needed for a bail application to be made.

Forty-five minutes later when the case was recalled, Ms Molloy said “unfortunately his mother has not appeared. We do not have any other address to apply for bail at this present time”.

Judge O’Neill further remanded the teenager in custody to St Patrick’s Institution to appear again later this week pending directions from the Director of Public Prosecutions.