Teen appears in court in relation to fire which damaged school

A 14-year-old boy appeared in court today charged in connection with a fire that extensively damaged a Gaelscoil in Lucan, in Dublin, last April.

The small boy was charged at the Dublin Children’s Court with causing criminal damage to Gaelscoil Naomh Pádraig, a national school, off Castle Road, in Lucan, and criminal damage to three waste bins, on April 20 last year.

The boy was aged 13 at the time of the alleged incidents.

Garda Noel Maher told Judge Elizabeth MacGrath that the teenager, who was accompanied to court by a grandparent, said “Sorry” in reply to being charged.

Judge MacGrath asked the teenager if he had legal representation to which he replied: “No, I don’t, no.”

Judge MacGrath granted legal aid and assigned solicitor Michelle Finan to represent the boy, who was wearing a hooded top, tracksuit bottoms and runners.

The judge was told that the DPP was recommending that the case should be retained in the Children’s Court, as apposed to being sent forward to the Circuit Court which, on conviction, has greater sentencing powers.

Garda Maher said: “A significant amount of damage was caused to a school, the DPP is urging for it to be kept in the Children’s Court.”

However, he added that the judge presiding at the Children’s Court would have to decide on that issue.

Ms Finan said she needed time to prepare submissions under Section 75 of the Children Act pleading for the case to be retained in the juvenile court instead of being sent to the Circuit Court.

This part of the legislation sets out grounds where the Children’s Court can retain jurisdiction for a case involving serious allegations, by taking into consideration the age and level of maturity of a minor – a person under the age of 18.

Judge MacGrath remanded the teenage boy on bail to appear again next month. She also acceded to a request from the garda to impose bail conditions on the teen.

The boy was ordered to reside at his home address and obey a curfew there between 10pm and 8am. The boy replied “Yeah” when asked if he knew what the conditions meant.

He answered “Yeah” a second time when the judge asked him if he understood that he risked being remanded in custody if he broke the terms of his bail.