Teen denies crashing into Cowen's garda escort

A schoolboy who denies crashing a stolen vehicle into a Garda Special Branch car which was escorting Taoiseach Brian Cowen, has been remanded on bail pending the preparation of a book of evidence.

Two detectives, who were not injured in the collision in Dublin, were following the Taoiseach's official car as Mr Cowen was being driven home from a late cabinet meeting on the night of November 18 last.

The 17-year-old west Dublin teenager, who cannot be identified because he is a juvenile, has been charged in connection with the incident at the Children's Court with stealing a car at St John's Road West, in Dublin 8.

He faces an additional charge for reckless endangerment of life by engaging in conduct which “created a substantial risk of death or serious harm to another.”

Today the case resumed at the Children's Court where Judge Bryan Smyth heard an outline of the allegations to determine the issue of jurisdiction.

Garda Cathal McNamara said it was alleged the then 16-year-old boy stole a car and a traffic pursuit ensued which ended in Ballyfermot.

At a junction with the South Circular Road, “progress was blocked by a garda vehicle on the left and six in front and there were numerous cars coming from the left and right.”

It was alleged the teenager drove at an unmarked garda BMW car “causing considerable damage to the vehicle.” He said nobody was injured and the boy allegedly continued driving, went on the wrong side of roundabouts three times and caused other road users to take evasive action.

“Another vehicle was very nearly involved in a collision,” he said adding that the stolen car was later abandoned by the driver and two other occupants.

Defence solicitor Gareth Noble asked the court to consider accepting jurisdiction. He told Judge Bryan Smyth that his client denied being the driver of the stolen car.

He asked the court to note that his client was in education and had never been charged with an offence before the alleged incident.

Judge Smyth noted the facts as outlined by the Garda and the submissions from the boy's solicitor.

He refused jurisdiction meaning the case is to be sent forward for trial to the Circuit Court, which has wider sentencing powers.

The teenager, who was accompanied to his case by a family member, was remanded on bail to appear again next month when he is to be served with a book of evidence and returned for trial.

A 16-year-old boy, who has admitted being a passenger in the stolen car, was remanded for sentencing in April pending the preparation of a probation report.