Six-month sentence for serial teen offender

A repeat teen offender has been given a six-month sentence by Judge Ann Ryan at the Dublin Children’s Court on his 27th criminal conviction.

The court was told that the boy did not want his case to be adjourned further for a probation report on him to be furnished and was instead he was opting to be sentenced yesterday.

The 16-year-old pleaded guilty to two thefts from shops, criminal damage, attempted motor theft, skipping court and failing to move on under the Public Order Act.

Garda Brian Martin of Santry station told Judge Ann Ryan that on November 21 last, “I saw the accused and three other males getting into a taxi in Ballymun. They were put under surveillance and we followed the taxi to Cherry Park in Swords.”

“They got out and were seen interfering with a car,” he said adding that €500 worth of damages was caused to the vehicle.

Judge Ryan also heard that on December 31 last the boy and an accomplice stole bottles of aftershave from the Jervis shopping centre in Dublin city centre.

He had also been caught shoplifting €20 worth of goods from Tesco’s in Ballymun.

And he had failed to turn up for his court cases on three other occasions.

Judge Ryan heard that the teenager, whose mother was unable to attend the proceedings, had 19 previous convictions for motoring, assault, Public Order Act offences as well as one for possession of a knife.

Defence solicitor John Quinn said the north Dublin boy, who remained silent during his hearing, had previously served sentences in the Trinity House detention centre for under 16’s, where he had completed the junior certificate.

“He is anxious to get all of these matters disposed of and given a sentence today,” Mr Quinn said. He also asked the court to take into consideration the boy’s guilty plea.

Judge Ryan agreed to proceed with sentencing and imposed a six month term in St Patrick’s Institution.