17-year-old arresting for possessing house keys held on bail

A 17-year-old boy arrested for possessing a set of house keys stolen during the course of a car hijacking has been remanded on continuing bail.

The boy has been charged at the Children’s Court with possessing house keys, which had been taken in a car hijacking, and a driver’s licence and a wallet stolen during a separate incident, on December 12 last at his home, a flat complex in the south inner city part of Dublin.

The court had heard earlier that the boy, who was accompanied by his mother, allegedly kept the keys “to gain access later”.

The teenager was remanded on bail to appear again later this month to allow the defence time to prepare a plea for the case to be kept in the Children’s Court rather for it to be sent to the Circuit Court, which can, on conviction, impose lengthier sentences.

He is on €500 cash bail and has been ordered to sign on daily at his local Garda station, reside at his family house, and obey a curfew to be in his home between 9pm and 7am.

Previously, Garda Fiona Morrison had told the court that following a search of the teen’s home he “was discovered in possession of house keys taken in a hi-jacking the night previously“.

“He had retained them to gain access later into the house,” she had said.

She had also said that the teenager matched a description given to the gardai of the hijacker.

The wallet and driver’s licence were taken during the course of a separate motor theft.

The teenager was on bail in relation to two burglary allegations, the court had also been told.