Garda car-chase teen remanded in custody pending trial

A 17-year-old boy arrested regarding a high speed car chase where he allegedly forced a Garda patrol car and a taxi-driver off a road was today served with a book of evidence and remanded in custody pending trial.

At the Children’s Court, Judge Ann Ryan ordered that the teenager was to be sent forward for trial to the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.

The west Dublin boy, who was accompanied to court by his father, was served with the book of evidence and consented to stay in custody. Earlier it had been held that the case should go to the higher court, which on conviction can impose lengthier sentences.

The teenager, who is charged with driving a stolen car and dangerous driving, in the early hours of March 9 last year, allegedly led gardaí on a pursuit throughout the Ballyfermot area in Dublin.

It was alleged by gardaí that he which “failed to stop on Rossmore Road and went through red lights with its lights turned off”.

He proceeded along Drumfinn Avenue to the Ballyfermot Road and then went the wrong way around a roundabout. It was alleged the teenage boy, continued along a grass verge and then went to Cherry Orchard Avenue.

He then allegedly met a second Garda car coming in his direction as he “drove on the wrong side of the road and forced the patrol car to pull off the road”.

A taxi also had to veer off the road to avoid colliding with the teenager who allegedly kept the car’s lights turned off.

Judge Ryan heard that at the Nangor Road, the boy then performed a 180-degree handbrake turn as he was being pursued.

Defence solicitor Michelle Finan had pleaded with the judge not to send the case forward to the Circuit Court, which has wider sentencing powers. She said the boy had attention deficit hyper activity disorder, had also developed a drink problem and had previously had been held in juvenile detention centres.

However, Judge Ryan held that the case should go forward to the Circuit Court.