Boy who threw rock at gardaí not convicted

A 15-year-old boy who threw a rock at gardaí and subjected them to verbal abuse as they were investigating a report of dangerous driving has been spared a criminal conviction.

The schoolboy pleaded guilty at the Children’s Court today to engaging in threatening and abusive behaviour, on June 12 last.

Garda John Keane of Store Street station said he and a colleague had gone to residential area in north inner-city Dublin to follow up a report of dangerous driving.

They were unable to locate the motorist but as they walked past a number of youths, the defendant “threw a rock at us.”

The rock missed the gardaí but the boy then went on to verbally abuse by them calling them “f***ing c***s” and shouting: “Everyone hates you, scumbags.”

Judge Bryan Smyth was told that the teenager, who was accompanied to court by an uncle, had no previous convictions.

Defence counsel Mr Emmet Nolan said the boy was apologetic for his actions and coming to court had given him a “fright”. The boy’s parents had separated and he lived with his mother but still maintained a good relationship with his father.

Mr Nolan said the boy had already been put out of one school for “disruptive behaviour” and his family believed he may suffer from Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder.

Judge Smyth was further told that the teenager hoped to complete the Junior Certificate in his current school and then enrol on a FÁS course to train to be a mechanic.

The teen did not have drink or drug problems but during the incident was “swept along by the crowd” said Mr Nolan, who added that the defendant was also taking part in pro-social activities in his spare time.

Judge Smyth said that, in the circumstances, he was applying the Probation Act, which leaves the boy without a criminal conviction. “Hopefully we will not see you in here again,” he warned the boy.