Youth sent for trial on false imprisonment charges

A youth has been served with a book of evidence and sent forward for trial for false imprisonment of a young couple during a burglary in north Dublin in April.

A house had been burgled on April 27 last and one of the occupants, a 21-year-old man, was allegedly brought out in his car to withdraw money from nearby ATM machines.

Ben Kelly (aged 18), who had an address at Tiara House in Milltown, Piltown in Kilkenny, had been charged at the Dublin Children's Court earlier with robbing an iPod, a DVD player, speakers and a mobile phone at the house on Botanic Avenue.

In August, four additional charges were brought against him for burglary while in possession of a knife, false imprisonment of the man and his partner – a woman in her 20s – and theft of a mobile phone, in connection with the alleged incident.

Garda Robert Tomkin served a book of evidence on the teenager today at the Children's Court.

The DPP has directed “trial on indictment” and Judge Clare Leonard made an order sending the teenager forward for trial at the present term of the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.

She granted legal aid to the accused and notified him that if he intended to rely on an alibi as part of his defence, he must inform the State within 14 days.

The teenager, who was wearing a white shirt and jeans, and remained silent during the hearing, did not apply for bail. He is the third youth to have his case sent to the Circuit Court over the burglary.

Another co-defendant, a 16-year-old boy, is due appear at the Children's Court next month for a decision to be made on the venue for his trial.