13-year-old felt to be risk to himself and others remanded on bail

A 13-ear-old boy on the educational level of a child aged six and thought to be “a risk to himself and others”, has been remanded on continuing bail for assault, trespassing and motoring offences.

At the Dublin Children’s Court today, Judge Ann Ryan adjourned the case of the boy, who has attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), to consider reports on his ability to understand the meaning of criminal behaviour.

She noted from a psychological and educational assessment reports and submissions from defence solicitor Mr John Bermingham that there were issues over whether the boy fully understood criminal behaviour.

Judge Ryan noted that the report from the assessment, undertaken when the teenager had been remanded in custody for four weeks late last year, had stated that he could be “a risk to himself and others in the community”.

He was associating with older youths involved in criminal behaviour, was trying to impress them and some educational assessments had put him on the level of a six-year-old.

She also heard of the teenager’s attitude towards joyriding which he did not believe was dangerous; he thought the youths he knew involved in it were good drivers. Young people who get killed in car crashes, he felt, were “bad drivers”.

Judge Ryan noted that there were some positive features to the report such has his enthusiasm, and she also took into consideration that he was back in school after a period of being absent.

Social services were also providing assistance and Judge Ryan said the boy’s mother, who was in court. may benefit from a “parenting course”.

She remanded the teenager on bail with a curfew from 8pm to 8am to appear again in two weeks while she considers the reports. The teenager has also been barred from associating with four older youths and was warned that if he broke his bail conditions he would be remanded in custody again.

He spoke briefly during the case indicating that he understood his bail terms and explaining that he did not like taking his ADHD medication which he felt made him feel sick and tired.

The boy is facing charges for trespassing, illegal driving and assault causing harm.

In an earlier hearing of the assault case’s evidence the court had heard that he set a girl’s hair on fire as they were travelling on a bus in Dublin, in October 2007, when he was aged 12.

Meanwhile charges for getting into a stolen motor car, criminal damage and theft were struck out due to a delay in obtaining directions from the DPP.