Teen caught after 'first attempt' dealing heroin on O'Connell Street

A teenager, who was caught on Dublin's O'Connell Street with 16 "street deals" of heroin on “his first attempt”, has been spared a criminal record and a custodial sentence.

The 17-year-old boy had pleaded guilty at the Dublin Children's Court to possessing the drugs for the purpose of sale or supply to another.

Judge John O'Connor noted today that the youth, who was accompanied to his hearing by his mother, had co-operated with a restorative justice action plan run by the Probation Service.

Noting that the teenager had completed the crime diversion programme, he gave him the Probation Offenders Act which will leave him with a clean record.

Garda Nicola Connolly had told the juvenile court that on a date in July last year the west Dublin youth was "found with €350 worth of heroin in 16 street deals".

The youth, who has no prior criminal convictions, was co-operative on arrest.

She had also agreed with the defence solicitor that she was satisfied that the teenager was not intrinsically involved in the drug trade.

"It may have been his first attempt at it," she had added.

The teen has also admitted that a few weeks previously he had a supply of the drug BZP and heroin at his home address.

The court had heard that the youth, who has been getting counselling for his drug problem and taking part in a training course, has not continued coming to Garda attention and has “extricated himself from the drug scene”.