Teen held woman hostage, court hears

A 16-year-old boy held a woman hostage as her partner was brought away at knife-point and forced to get money, a court heard today.

The now 17-year-old boy, who cannot be identified because he is a juvenile, is one of four youths accused of taking part in a house raid, at Botanic Avenue, in north Dublin, on April 27 last.

He appeared at the Dublin Children's Court today where he faces charges of robbery, burglary and false imprisonment of the couple, who are in their 20s.

Outlining the allegations, Garda Shimna Ni Mhairtin, of Mountjoy station, said five north Dublin youths knocked on the door of the house which was opened by the woman's boyfriend.

“When it was answered, they forced the door open and pushed him in and started going through the property,” she said.

Four of them were armed with either broken glass bottles or knives, but the accused did not have a weapon, the court heard.

They allegedly searched the house for valuables and “started demanding cash from the occupants”. The man was forced into his own car at knife-point and some of the raiders “drove him around the area to get cash out of bank machines”.

He was threatened that his girlfriend “would be assaulted if he did not go along with them” and the defendant stayed in the house with her, it was alleged. Gda Ni Mhairtin said the teen made admissions after he was identified and arrested nearby about an hour later.

Defence solicitor Maura Kiely said the boy, who was accompanied to his case by his mother and social worker, had a difficult background and has been in care since 2005.

He had gone through stages where he felt he had “no hope and nothing to lose”, Judge Clare Leonard was told.

Ms Kiely asked the court to note that the teenager, who has yet to enter a plea, was under the influence of drugs and alcohol at the time.

Welfare reports on him were furnished to the judge, who said she did not accept that he was “led astray” as some of his alleged accomplices were younger.

Judge Leonard said that the boy had been “getting the assistance of anything he could have got”.

She described the incident as “very, very serious” and held that he should be tried in the Circuit Court, which has wider sentencing powers.

Judge Leonard remanded him on bail to appear again next month when the book of evidence will be ready. His co-defendants are also due in court again next month.