Teen with 26 convictions on bail pending sentence

A South Dublin teenage boy, who shot himself in the hand while taking part in target practice with an illegal air rifle which fires lead pellets, has re-admitted to bail pending sentence.

A Probation Service assessment report is being sought to establish whether the repeat teen offender, who has 26 prior convictions, would be suitable for a crime diversion project which also helps troubled youths obtain training and employment.

He had been remanded in custody to St Patrick’s Institution two weeks ago at the Dublin Children’s Court after Judge Clare Leonard heard that the teen, had continued to be arrested for burglaries, robberies and motor theft crimes, since his previous court appearance, in February.

Today she agreed to grant bail to the teenager to allow for “intensive supervision” from the Probation Service. The teenager was also ordered to reside with his father and to obey a curfew from 11pm-8am.

The 17-year-old boy had pleaded guilty to possessing the air rifle and 0.17-inch calibre lead pellets, contrary to the Firearms Act, at Lambay Drive, in Ballybrack, in Dublin, in July 2007. He also admitted using a stolen motorcycle on May 25 last year.

Earlier in the proceedings, Judge Leonard had said that the boy’s offending “had to stop”.

Background social work and probation reports had been furnished to the court. However, she said that the boy had not attended his appointment with his probation officer and he had continued to be arrested for what she described as “serious, serious offences”.

She had agreed there were some positive aspects to the last pre-sentence probation report.

However, in relation to his “chaotic” background, the judge said the teen could “not trade off that anymore”.

She had said “someone is going to get killed the way he was going”.

“He has to put a stop to his offending, he is going no where, if he continues to offend, except longer and longer terms in custody,” the judge had also said.

During his hearing, in January, the court had been told that gardaí responded to reports of youths being seen carrying a rifle.

Garda Ciara McNulty had said that the boy and two others were stopped and searched. A tin of lead pellets was recovered and a further search of the area led to the rifle being found.

Following his arrest the teenager had to be taken to hospital “where it was found that there was a lead pellet lodged is his hand.”

Garda McNulty agreed that the teen had not been the “main motivator”. He had taken a turn of the rifle from another individual and was “doing target practice on bottles”.

The boy was arrested for the later theft offence after he was seen bringing a stolen motorcycle into his home.

In mitigation the court has been told by his lawyer, that the boy had a troubled family background. Judge Leonard heard that the boy’s parents had separated but they maintained good relations. Some of the teen’s other siblings were in care, the court also heard.

The teen’s criminal record which began in September 2005, when he was aged 14, consisted of motor theft, illegal driving, criminal damage, burglary, robbery and Public Order Act offences.

The boy is was also being accused of taking part in a burglary and a related motorcycle theft, at a building belonging to the Dell company, at Cherrywood, in Cabinteely, in south Dublin, on April 21 last.

That case back until June when the boy and a teenage co-defendant are to enter pleas.