Boy, 17, escapes custody

A 17-year-old boy, who sped a stolen car at 160 kph and nearly caused several motor collisions, has escaped custody for a second time despite re-offending while on a suspended sentence.

In February the teenager, was a given a two-year road ban and a six-month sentence by the Dublin Children’s Court on condition he did not re-offend for two years.

However, Judge Ann Ryan heard today that while the suspended sentence was hanging over the boy he had since been found guilty and was awaiting sentence for a drink fuelled public order disturbance in which he threatened and accosted gardaí.

Defence counsel Ms Mary O’Sullivan pleaded with the court to exercise discretion and not activate the suspended sentence.

Judge Ryan said that it “had been made clear” to the boy that if he re-offended within two years the suspended sentence, for what she described as “very serious matters” would be activated.

“On this occasion I am not going to impose a custodial sentence. But I warn you that if you come back before me again I will impose six months,” said Judge Ryan.

Earlier the teen had said he wanted to become a taxi driver.

The boy had admitted stealing the car, in Swords, in Dublin, on June 16 last year. He also pleaded guilty to driving without a licence and insurance, failing to stop for gardaí as well as three counts of dangerous driving, at Margaret’s Road, in Ballymun, and at North Road and the North Road Roundabout, in Finglas, on June 17 last.

The boy’s counsel had said in mitigation that the incident was a “once off” and he had not been in trouble since and was taking part in sports activities.

The teen, who was accompanied to court by his mother, was in full time employment and was hoping not to be banned from driving because he wanted to get a taxi licence, the court had been told.

Judge Ryan had said that she had to take into consideration the seriousness of the offence and the evidence of prosecuting Garda Declan Fitzgerald who had said that it was “the most dangerous and reckless incident he had ever been involved in.”

She had said she would not follow the probation report recommendations and would impose a six-month sentence and a two-year road ban.

However, she suspended the sentence on condition that the teenager did not re-offend within the next two years.

The court had heard that the boy had led gardaí on a twenty minute chase, during which he reached speeds of 160 kph.

The teen failed to stop for gardaí, mounted footpaths and “drove the wrong way around a roundabout.”

He also broke red lights and sped in between two other vehicles “nearly causing a collision.”

Motorists on the M50 had to take evasive action to avoid being hit by the teen.