Teen accused of ramming Garda refused bail

A 15-year-old boy accused of dangerous driving causing serious bodily harm to a female garda on Halloween night, was refused bail today.

Garda Linda Bury and a colleague were dealing with an incident on Blackditch Road, in Ballyfermot, Dublin when their patrol car was rammed by another vehicle.

A 4X4 crashed into them pinning Gda Bury to a wall. She was freed by colleagues and taken to St James's Hospital to be treated for leg injuries.

Gardaí later arrested the 15-year-old boy and charged him with unlawful use of the stolen 4X4 and dangerous driving in a manner that “caused serious bodily harm” to Gda Bury.

The teenager has been remanded in custody on November 1 and appeared at Dublin Children's Court again today.

An additional charge for reckless endangerment of life was brought against the teenager, who was accompanied to his case by his mother.

Judge Clare Leonard refused to grant bail and remanded him in custody to appear again next week.

The DPP has recommended that the boy's case should be sent forward to the Circuit Court, which has wider sentencing powers. The defence is entitled to make pleas for the trial to be heard in the juvenile court because he is a minor.

The Children's Court has heard that Gda Bury had already been dealing with an immobilised vehicle when she was allegedly struck by the stolen 4X4 and “pinned to a wall”.