Teen charged with murder served with book of evidence

A 17-year-old boy charged with the murder of a man in Dublin last summer was served with a book of evidence today and has been sent forward for trial to the Central Criminal Court.

The teenage boy, who cannot be identified because he is a juvenile, had been charged on December 24 last with the murder of 35-year-old David Rooney, at Clonmacnoise Road, in Crumlin, in Dublin, on July 2 last year.

Initially, he had been remanded in custody but subsequently received High Court bail.

At the Children’s Court today, Detective Garda Jeremiah English served the book of evidence on the teenager, who was accompanied by his parents.

Judge Ann Ryan heard that the Director of Public Prosecutions consented for the case to be returned for trial to present sittings of the Central Criminal Court.

Judge Ryan notified the teenager that if he intended to use an alibi as part of his defence, he must notify the State within 14 days.

“But if you do not, you may not be able to do that, do you understand?” she said to him. The boy, who stood up, replied: “Yes.”

A woman in her 70s, who is acting as the independent surety, confirmed to the judge that she understood that she would loose the surety money if the boy broke the conditions of his bail, which were not read out, or if he failed to appear in court.

Legal aid was granted.