Cork teenager who threatened to kill woman told by judge to sort out his drug and anger issues

Addressing the teenager directly, Judge Joanne Carroll said: 'No matter what struggles you have, you cannot headbutt your mother, you cannot threaten her in any way. Do you understand? And if you do, I will have no option but to send you back to Oberstown.' File picture: Colin Keegan, Collins Dublin

A teenager facing a charge of threatening to kill or injure a woman has been urged by a district court judge to tackle his cannabis use and anger issues.

Addressing him directly, Judge Joanne Carroll said: “No matter what struggles you have, you cannot headbutt your mother, you cannot threaten her in any way. Do you understand? And if you do, I will have no option but to send you back to Oberstown.” 

The 16-year-old boy appeared before Judge Carroll at Bandon district court on Monday, having spent the weekend in Oberstown detention centre.

He is charged with threatening to kill or cause serious harm to a named woman last year, and is also charged with damaging a car belonging to the same woman. The boy cannot be named because he is a juvenile.

Judge Carroll asked the boy how did he “get on” while in Oberstown, to which he replied: “I learned a lot”. When asked if he “managed up there”, he replied that he had not “managed” but that “since I went in, I learned”.

Cannabis use

He agreed with Judge Carroll that he had not had access to cannabis while in Oberstown and said that the first day or two were not easy but “I got over it”.

He told the judge that he thought he would “be a lot worse”, to which she said: “Good man”.

Judge Carroll told the youth that he has great potential but she said: “You need structure, you need routine, and you need to keep the appointments that are being provided.” She said that if he could get off cannabis, she believed he could have a good future ahead of him.

The court heard that the youth has recently been diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder and that he has had difficulties in life. But Judge Carroll said that he has to take his opportunities.

She said he had initially engaged well with a summer programme he was on but he “disengaged from it in July”.

She also noted that his cannabis use had seemed to increase and he had not been keeping some appointments. She said he needed structure for the month of August and said that a full programme has now been devised.

The court heard he had an appointment with an addiction counsellor last week, with a further one on Thursday, as well as weekly appointments to tackle anger management. A youth worker is also to meet weekly with him. He is also being referred to a justice programme.

Judge Carroll said: 

This young man has potential but he needs a lot of engagement for the month of August. 

She told him that he has great ability, but he needs to get off cannabis and to manage his anger. She acknowledged that people can get frustrated at times but she urged him to take steps such as doing deep breathing or going to the gym, get into boxing or go for a jog.

Judge Carroll added: “You cannot lash out at home.”  She remanded him on bail, on his own bond of €100, to appear in court again on September 11. She told him he had the support of his grandmother and his parents, adding: “Try to take your chances now.”