Girl to give video link evidence in false imprisonment trial

A young girl will give evidence via video link at the Dublin Children's Court trial of a teenager accused of locking her in his house.

The 17-year-old boy denies the charge of false imprisonment which allegedly happened in north Dublin, on a date in May 2008.

Judge Bryan Smyth set the trial to be heard on a date next month.

Although it is a Children's Court case, the hearing will take place in the Criminal Courts of Justice complex, on Parkgate Street, in Dublin, where witnesses can give evidence via video link.

The Children's Court had heard that that the nine-year-old witness was “afraid and does not want to give evidence in the room, does not want to see him.”

Earlier, a garda had told the court that it was alleged that on the date in question, “between 8.50pm and 9.10pm, the accused took an eight-year-old girl to his home, at his previous address, and locked the door so she was unable to get out.”

It was alleged that “she managed to work the lock in the house and escape” and added that the girl suffered no injuries.

The court has also heard that the boy allegedly “pinched” the girl.