Judge says 'Simpsons' shows why people should stay in on St Patrick's Day

St Patrick's Day is the one day when people should stay indoors Judge Conal Gibbons recommended today in trial of a teenager, citing the new 'Simpsons' episode set in Ireland as an example.

The troubled 15-year-old south Dublin boy, who has been the subject of a full care order and given a place in a care unit for troubled teens, had been remanded in custody to a juvenile detention centre, in recent weeks for breaching his bail conditions.

He faces charges at the Dublin Children’s Court for theft and Public Order Act offences.

His solicitor Michelle Finan said that previously the boy had been making good progress in his care home and was anxious to be released from the detention centre.

“He is asking for bail and wants to be out for St Patrick’s,” she told Judge Gibbons, who replied, “St Patrick’s Day is the one day he should be inside.”

He said the new episode of 'The Simpsons', which is set in Ireland and had been given a premiere screening this morning in the Lighthouse Cinema, in Smithfield, a short distance from the Children’s Court, “has demonstrated all the reasons why they should stay in”.

“You did not hear that the Simpsons were on about St Patrick’s Day and the difficulties that occur on it?” he asked the boy, who replied: “No.”

Judge Gibbons remanded him in custody for a further week, to allow a welfare report to be furnished to court and for his social workers to be present before considering the issue of bail.