Teen denies trying to push Garda off third-floor balcony

A 17-year-old boy has today pleaded not guilty to an attack where it is alleged he tried to push a Garda off a third-floor flat complex balcony.

The boy has been charged at the Dublin Children’s Court with a spate of offences, mostly for thefts and one for assault causing harm to a Garda, at a south inner city Dublin flat complex, on September 17 last.

Garda Sergeant Liam Walsh of Pearse Street station had told the court earlier that it was alleged that the teenager’s family home was being searched for stolen goods.

“The accused punched the Garda and tried to push him over the balcony,” he had said.

The Garda suffered a cut gum and a bruised cheek, the court was told.

It was also alleged that on February 19 last the boy stole a laptop worth €1,400 from a car, stole two bottles of vodka from a shop on February 9 last, and attempted to burgle an office on Grand Canal Street, on February 28 last.

Judge Clare Leonard noted today that guilty pleas had been entered to the charges and remanded the boy, who was accompanied to court by his mother, on continuing bail to appear again in June when a full hearing of the case is to take place.

She was told that there would be five State witnesses and one for the defence, the teenager himself.

She imposed a bail condition compelling the south inner city Dublin boy to obey a curfew to be in his home between the hours of 10pm and 8am.

Legal aid has been granted to the teenage defendant.