Teenager who possessed heroin while on bail given five and a half years

A Dublin teenager whose only male role models have spent "substantial" time in prison has been given a five-and-a-half-year sentence for possessing €75,000 worth of heroin while on bail.

The 17-year-old was on bail for attempted robbery when gardai caught him hiding the 378g heroin bag in his jacket, outside a Charlemont Street shop on September 9, 2008.

The teenager pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to possessing the heroin and attempting to rob Harcourt Street’s Cafe Sol with two other youths on April 3, 2008.

Judge Patricia Ryan imposed a six month sentence for the attempted robbery and a consecutive five-year sentence for the drug offence. She suspended the final 18 months on strict conditions.

Garda Brendan O’Toole agreed with defence counsel, Mr Ronan Kennedy BL, that his client had a "difficult" background as his father and elder brother had "substantial" prison sentences.

Gda O’Toole said the youth told him he’d been on his way to hide the heroin bag for a dealer to help clear the €2,500 he owed for his drug habit.

Gda O’Toole agreed with Mr Kennedy that his client, who has 22 previous convictions including assault, criminal damage and stealing bicycles and cars, drew attention to himself on the street by hiding his left hand in his jacket as gardaí drove by.

Garda Anthony Brazil agreed that the youth hadn’t threatened cafe staff or carried a weapon during the earlier attempted robbery.

He told prosecution counsel, Ms Fiona Murphy BL, that another youth had held a broken bottle to the Brazilian waiter’s neck as he was opening for business that morning around 6am.

The three teenagers entered the cafe when the waiter ran off, but fled themselves when another staff member screamed from behind the counter.

The waiter later told gardaí that the teenager who held the broken bottle to his neck had been shaking and appeared to be on drugs.

Mr Kennedy submitted that his client had been trying to address his drug and alcohol problems since going into custody shortly after the heroin offence last year.