Teen banned from head shops remanded on bail

A 14-year-old boy, who was last week banned from head shops, which sell so-called legal highs, was remanded on continuing bail at the Dublin Children's Court today.

Judge Clare Leonard had said on February 22 last that the teen, who is charged with trespassing, was facing a serious allegation and “has been in and out of head shops, wrecking his head by the look of him.”

She had banned him from all head shops and warned his bail would be revoked if he broke this condition. He was also banned from associating with five youths, from loitering in certain areas in his locality and was ordered to obey a curfew from 9pm to 7am.

Today he was back in court but there was no evidence that he had broken the head shop ban or any of his other bail conditions.

Defence solicitor Sarah Molloy said her client, who was accompanied to his case by his parents, was pleading not guilty to the trespassing charge.

Judge John O'Neill remanded the teen on continuing bail pending a hearing of the case next month.

The bail conditions are to continue.

In December, the boy had been held in custody because his worried parents then wanted educational and psychological assessments of him to be carried out.

The court heard at point that:“His family are very concerned that he desperately needs to be assessed, he does not want to be remanded in custody and does not feel it is necessary. But his parents are present and have huge concerns for his safety and well being in the community.”

A psychiatric report on the teenager had raised concerns, his solicitor had also said.

The assessment carried out in custody made recommendations in relation to supervision and assistance in the community.

Last week his mother and a social worker also said the boy refused to engage with services put in place to help him including anger management counselling and family therapy.

His mother also complained that her son was refusing to go to school and that he had been constantly going to head shops in his area.