Teen held in connection with car chase remanded on conditional bail

A teenage boy arrested in relation to a dangerous 40-minute car chase in west Dublin in the early hours of this morning, which involved up to 50 patrol cars and the Garda helicopter, has been remanded on conditional bail.

The 16-year-old boy was charged at the Children’s Court with the theft of the car in the Clondalkin area this morning.

Garda John Walsh, of Blanchardstown station told Judge Ann Ryan that the teenager made no reply to the charge after he was arrested.

He went on to tell the judge that the “traffic pursuit lasted 40 minutes he was the sole occupant of the car”.

During the drive there were “numerous counts of dangerous driving” and three traffic accidents. The Garda helicopter and 40 to 50 patrol cars had been involved in the chase, the court heard.

The boy’s mother told Judge Ryan: “I saw the chase last night and my nerves were gone. I got a feeling it was him.”

Her son, she said, had received a telephone call at about 2am from a “so-called friend, obviously they are after running and leaving him, he should have known better though”.

Garda Walsh also notified the court that a bench warrant was also executed against the boy over his failure to attend a case for a motor theft offence, last month.

However, he accepted that the boy’s mother, who was in court, had been making efforts to have the bench warrant dealt with prior to his arrest.

Judge Ryan said it was obvious that the boy’s mother was very concerned and was taking matters very seriously. “I cannot say the same for her son given the allegations before the court of what happened, the sole occupant of the car, a 40-minute chase involving the Garda helicopter.”

She agreed to grant bail subject to strict conditions. The teenager, who was granted legal aid, was ordered to obey a 9pm to 7am curfew at his home and to sign on daily at Ronanstown Garda station.

She stressed that the teenager would be remanded in custody if he breached the terms of his bail, adding “It is entirely in your own hands what happens to you.”

She noted that the Garda was seeking a lengthy remand given the number of Garda units involved in the incident and adjourned the case until April for directions from the DPP to be obtained.