Teen remanded so psychological assessment can be carried out

A 14-year-old boy arrested for dangerous driving has been remanded in custody with his family’s consent for educational and psychological assessments to be carried out.

The north Dublin boy has charged at the Children’s Court with failing to stop for gardaí, driving a motorcycle without a crash helmet, violent behaviour in a Garda station and two counts of dangerous driving, on February 16 last.

He had been given bail on March 2 last with conditions compelling him to obey a 9.30pm-7am curfew. He had also been ordered to abstain from alcohol and to sign on three times a week at his local Garda station.

Detective Garda Adrian Mulligan told Judge Conal Gibbons that, since then, the boy had breached his curfew, had not signed on twice and had been arrested for an alleged motor theft offence.

Det. Gda Mulligan, of Ballymun station, had told the court earlier that a file is to be sent to the DPP and a charge for “endangerment” could be brought against the boy.

Defence solicitor Michelle Finan told Judge Gibbons that a bail application was not being made. His family was consenting to him being held in custody at the National Remand and Assessment Unit, a detention centre, in Finglas, in north Dublin.

The juvenile detention centre carries out 28-day psychological and educational assessments and when completed provides to the court reports with recommendations for the defendant.

Judge Gibbons made the order remanding the boy, who is also facing a separate petty theft charge which allegedly occurred in Ballymun on February 22 last, in custody for the assessments to take place.