Teen who possessed €126,00 worth of heroin served with book of evidence

A 17-year-old boy, who was arrested for possessing a kilo of heroin worth €126,000 which he claimed he was minding for someone else, was served with a book of evidence at the Dublin Children’s Court today.

The west Dublin boy, who had never been before the courts before, has been charged with possessing the heroin and possession with intent to supply to another, at his home address, on November 6 last year.

Previously, it was held that the case should be sent to the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, which has wider sentencing powers, and not be retained in the jurisdiction of the Children’s Court where he was served with the book of evidence today.

Judge Conal Gibbons told the teenager, who was accompanied by his father, that he was sending him forward for trial at the next term of the Circuit Court, which begins in April.

The boy, who is on bail, was granted legal aid and notified by the judge that if he intended to use an alibi in his defence he must give the relevant details to the prosecution within 14 days.

Outlining the prosecution evidence, Garda Dominic Downing of Ballyfermot station, had had told the Children’s Court earlier that it was alleged that “a quantity of heroin was found, approximately €126,000’s worth”.

“The accused was arrested and taken to Lucan station and made full admissions that he was minding the quantity of heroin,” he had also said in a summary of the allegations.

Garda Downing had agreed with the defence that the teenage defendant had no prior convictions and that this was his first time before the court.

The defence had made submissions last month pleading for the case to be kept in the Children’s Court.

It had been submitted that if the case was retained in the juvenile court it could be dealt with “in a speedier manner, allowing him to get on with his life”.

However, then presiding, Judge Ann Ryan had refused and ordered that the case should go to the higher court.