Youth charged with shooting remanded on continuing bail

A youth charged over a shooting of a man in Finglas in Dublin last October was remanded on continuing bail at the Children’s Court today.

The man, who is in his 20s, had been hospitalised after he was shot in the early hours of October 18 last.

A then 17-year-old boy was charged two days later at the Dublin Children’s Court with assault causing harm to Mr Stephen Keenan and possessing a handgun, at Mellows Avenue, in Finglas in connection with the shooting.

The defendant, Darren Dunne, of Cappagh Avenue, Finglas, who has since turned 18, and is no longer a juvenile, appeared again at the Children's Court today.

However, state solicitor Tom Conlon told Judge Clare Leonard that the book of evidence was not yet ready to be served on the youth. He said the book was being drafted and one statement was still needed.

The DPP had directed that the case should be sent forward to the Circuit Court, which on conviction has wider sentencing powers.

Judge Leonard acceded to a request for an adjournment and remanded the youth on continuing bail for two weeks, for the book of evidence to be served.

Earlier, Garda Zohra Smyth had told the court “it is alleged the injured party was shot, seriously injured and hospitalised as a result of this.”

“It is alleged the accused had in his possession a handgun, for unlawful purposes namely to shoot the injured party,” she had said.

Garda Smyth had alleged that the defendant walked past a house at about 5am, where the man had been in his garden, and “fired eight shots hitting the injured party once.”