Teenager born in prison and predisposed to addiction since birth avoids jail on theft charge

Boy was described in court as 'absolutely failed by the State'

Boy had been born in prison because his mother had been in custody and had serious addiction issues. He was also born with foetal alcoholism, court heard.

A youth described as "let down by the system" — born in prison, predisposed to addiction from infancy, and having spent his life in care — has been spared a custodial sentence for theft.

The harrowing background was revealed when the now 18-year-old pleaded guilty to stealing €360 worth of clothes from a sportswear outlet in Tallaght, Dublin, on November 24 last.