Teen to face trial for high-speed car chase

A 17-year-old boy is to face trial at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for allegedly leading gardaí on a high-speed car chase and crashing into three vehicles.

The Children’s Court heard that the 17-year-old north Dublin boy was charged with using a stolen car and three counts of dangerous driving, on March 28 last. The teenager is in custody on remand in relation to other to other charges, Judge Clare Leonard heard.

Detective Garda Gerard Moore said it will be alleged that the boy was the driver of a stolen car which had been blocked by a Garda vehicle at Seville Place in Dublin’s north inner city.

He said the teenager “reversed for 200 metres and did a handbrake turn and then drove at 70 mph through Summerhill and Portland Row”.

He alleged that the boy sped through two sets of red lights and at one point a taxi driver had to take evasive action to avoid a collision.

The court heard that the drive ended at the North Circular Road, when the boy “crashed into three parked cars causing over €8,000 worth of damages”.

Defence solicitor Mr Gareth Noble pleaded with judge to retain the case in the jurisdiction of the Children’s Court. He said his client lived with his grandmother, who was present for the case.

He said his client’s father had a new family and his mother was deceased.

Mr Noble also said that efforts are underway to have the teenager psychologically assessed and on his release from custody the boy planned to commence a training course.

Judge Leonard refused jurisdiction to deal with the case and held that it should go forward to the Circuit Court, which has wider sentencing powers.

The teenager was remanded to appear again next month when he is to be served with the book of evidence and be returned for trial.

A co-defendant, a boy, also aged 17, who is accused of being a passenger in the stolen car, is to appear on the same date. His case will also be sent forward to the higher court, the judge held.