Youth charged with possession of sawn-off shotgun

A 16-year-old boy was charged today with possessing a sawn-off shotgun in connection with a garda investigation into shootings linked to feuding gangs in Dublin.

The incidents occurred following a row in a pub in Crumlin on Sunday night last. Within hours, shots were fired into two houses in the Drimnagh area but no one was injured.

The teenager was charged today at the Dublin Children's Court with possessing a sawn off Danarms shotgun, at a lane-way off Herberton Road, in Crumlin, on November 2.

Garda Thomas Tighe told Judge Eamon O'Brien that the boy made “no reply” to caution when he was charged, in the presence of his mother, at Sundrive Road Garda station on last night last.

He said he was not objecting to bail providing a number of conditions were imposed by the court. He then furnished the judge with a list of the bail terms he was seeking, the details of which were not read out in court.

Defence solicitor Philip Hannon told Judge O'Brien that there was no objection to the bail conditions sought by the garda.

Judge O'Brien imposed the bail conditions on the boy, who was accompanied to his case by his mother.

Directions from the DPP have to be obtained as to whether the case is to stay in the juvenile court or instead be sent forward for trial before a judge and jury at the Circuit Court, which has wider sentencing powers.

The south Dublin boy, who remained silent during his brief court appearance, was remanded to appear again on a date in January. Legal aid was granted.