Boy faces trial for alleged petrol-bomb attack on sister's home

A teenage boy has been sent forward for trial charged in connection with a family-feud related petrol-bomb and gun attack on his sister’s home.

The boy (aged 17) has been charged at the Children’s Court with possessing a petrol bomb with intent to cause damage, at his sister’s south west inner city Dublin home, in the early hours of March 16 last.

This morning Judge Eamon O’Brien was told that the Director of Public Prosecutions was consenting for the south Dublin teenager to be returned for trial to the present term of the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.

The book of evidence was served on the boy, who was accompanied to court by his mother, and he was then remanded on bail pending his trial.

Earlier, a judge had held that the case was too serious to be retained in the Children’s Court. An order had been made that it should be sent to the Circuit Court which on conviction can impose lengthier sentences.

Garda Aidan Shaughnessy of Crumlin station had said that the defendant, who cannot be identified because he is a juvenile, made no reply when the charge was put to him.

Outlining the allegations, he had said the injured party and her husband were in their home, in Drimnagh, when “they were awoken by a large bang".

“They looked outside and saw two males in front of their home. It is alleged the accused was one of them.”

A downstairs window had been smashed.

Garda forensics officers examined the scene and found that a “firearm had been discharged into the house".

They further discovered that “a petrol bomb had been thrown into the house but failed to ignite.”

The teenager, who has been granted legal aid, is on bail subject to strict conditions including a ban on him having any contact with his sister or her husband.