Phone records to be used in schoolboy's gun case

Mobile phone records are to be used in evidence against a Dublin schoolboy charged with possessing a semi automatic pistol and 20 rounds of ammunition, a court heard today.

The boy, aged 16, had been charged at the Children's Court. under the Firearms Act with possession of a Smith and Wesson nine millimetre semi-automatic pistol, and 20 rounds of ammunition at Dorset Street, in central Dublin on July 14 last year, when he was aged 15.

However, it was held that the case was too serious to kept in the juvenile court and should be sent forward to the Circuit Court, which can impose lengthier sentences.

The teen appeared at the Children's Court again today to be served with a book of evidence.

However, a State's solicitor told Judge Bryan Smyth that more time was needed for it to be completed.

“We are awaiting mobile phone analysis,” he explained.

Defence solicitor Michelle Finan consented to the case being put back until a date in January. The teenager, who was accompanied to his case by his mother, was remanded on continuing bail.

In an outline of the allegations, Detective Liam Ahern of the Garda Organised Crime Unit had told Judge Smyth that confidential information had been received “which indicated that a hand over would take place of a firearm and ammunition on Dorset Street”.

A surveillance operation was set up and the teen was identified “as the person involved in the handover”.

He was allegedly stopped and brought to Store Street garda station where it was found he the gun and bullets concealed on him. Det-Gda Ahern had also said the teenager was interviewed and made “certain admissions”.

Earlier, defence solicitor Michelle Finan had made submissions under Section 75 of the Children Act pleading for the case to be retained in the jurisdiction of the juvenile court.

She had said the teenager was “a link in the chain” and given his age he had been a “sitting duck to be used in that chain as a tool”.