Teenager dragged from court after being convicted of 51st crime

A teenager had to be dragged kicking and screaming by gardaí from a Dublin court after he was found guilty of his 51st crime.

The 16-year-old boy was being remanded in custody after the Children’s Court held he was guilty of possessing a screwdriver for use in connection with a theft, at the North Circular Road, in Dublin, on September 6 last.

In August, due to a technicality, the teenager had managed to escape a one-year sentence over an incident in which he ploughed into two cars including one carrying a toddler.

But today he screamed that he was innocent of the charge before the court which during his hysterical fit, he claimed kept “putting me in custody for f*** all”.

Garda Steven Mullen of the Bridewell station told Judge Bryan Smyth that he watched the teenager peering into a number of cars. Garda Mullen said that, as he and a colleague approached the teen, he observed him throw the screwdriver into a nearby garden.

He searched two gardens and recovered a screwdriver, which he said was dry while the grass on which it lay was damp.

Garda Declan Sherlock said he saw the teenager throw an object into one of the gardens.

In evidence, the repeat teen offender denied the allegations. He said he had been walking down the street when he was grabbed from behind and was accused of throwing away the screwdriver. “I said I did not throw anything,” he told Judge Smyth.

Judge Smyth found the facts proven and was told that the boy already had 50 previous convictions, many of which were for driving and motor theft related offences.

On June 24 last, the teenager had been given a one-year sentence in the Finglas Children’s Centre, detention facility, as a result of incident for which he was prosecuted on two counts of reckless endangerment of life.

During that case, the court had heard in a hearing in June that the boy drove at 90mph, tried to run over a garda and then ploughed into two cars stopped at traffic lights at Old Kilmainham. One of the cars had been carrying a 23-month old baby girl, who miraculously did not sustain an injury.

However, in August the teenager was released from this sentence on a technicality after it was discovered that there was an error on the committal warrant.

Defence solicitor Ms Kelly Breen said that the teenager did not fully understand the consequences of his offending behaviour.

She asked for him to be given strict bail conditions saying he realised now the danger he is in and the fact that he would now, for the first time facing a sentence, in St Patrick’s Institution, which she described as being “ a more serious realm” for the defendant.

She said the teenager had a part-time job and hoped to begin a FÁS course shortly.

Judge Smyth said detention had to be a last resort and the court did not like imposing custodial sentences but “unfortunately it gets to a stage where there is little option but to do it.”

He also said that he noted the teenager had a lengthy number of previous convictions and had been released early from his last sentence.

He consented to adjourn sentencing with a remand in custody in St Patrick’s Institution to allow time for a probation report to be obtained.

At that point, the teenage boy, who was accompanied to court by his mother’s partner, jumped to his feet and started screaming.

“That is not my screwdriver,” he yelled, as he kicked the defendant’s bench and stepped out in the direction of the judge’s bench.

“I have to live my life, this is not my screwdriver,” he shouted.

“You know that, I’m sick of getting locked up that is not my f***ing screwdriver, and you keep putting me in custody for f*** all.”

Meanwhile, Garda Mullen and Sherlock approached the teenager as he neared the judge’s bench.

Eventually they restrained him as he continued struggling and was taken from the cell kicking out with the sounds of his screams still heard in the courtroom as he was taken to the cell area to await transfer in St Patrick’s Institution.

Afterwards, Ms Breen said she had seen the boy in the cell area but at that time he was unable to give her instructions as to whether he wanted the judge to proceed with sentencing.

Judge Smyth replied that he was not going to revisit the case then due to a possible risk to other people in the courtroom “in view of what has happened”.

Sentencing was adjourned until next week.