He’s nine and four feet tall: The boy accused of mugging

A NINE-YEAR-OLD boy arrested in connection with a mugging appeared in court yesterday, making him the youngest child to face a criminal prosecution in Ireland in recent years.

The boy, who had a shaved head, dressed in jeans, hooded top and runners at his first appearance at Dublin Children’s Court.

He was barely visible as he sat in the defendants’ bench and remained silent throughout.

Judge William Early said intervention from the Health Service Executive was necessary.

The boy, who is four feet tall, was charged with robbery of a mobile phone and an MP3 player from two teenagers at the bus terminus, at Belgard Square, Tallaght, on January 29 last.

He was arrested at Belgard Walk, in Tallaght, the same area where the alleged offence took place and several miles from his home, at 11.40pm on February 18 last.

The young boy was then taken to Tallaght Garda Station where he was charged, after which he made no reply, said Garda Michelle McGuinness.

The boy, who lives in a halting site, was accompanied to court by his father.

Judge Early granted free legal aid and assigned solicitor Margaret MacEvilly to represent the boy.

When Judge Early queried the boy’s age, he was told he was nine years old. However, the youngster’s father “was unclear as to his son’s exact date of birth”.

Ms MacEvilly was told that the family would bring his birth certificate on his next court appearance.

Garda McGuinness applied for the case to be adjourned pending directions from the DPP and the defence solicitor also said she would need time to take instructions.

“In principle, it is undesirable that a nine-year-old child should be before the criminal courts. If the child is so unruly and at risk, there seems there is a serious risk to his welfare, health and safety, section 16 of the Childcare Act 1991 requires that the Health Service Executive (HSE) intervene,” said Judge Early.

He then remanded the boy on bail to appear again in April.

He then said to the boy’s father: “There is a heavy obligation on you to take care of your son.”

The father put the blame on another boy telling the judge: “He told this woman [the garda] that it was a 15-year-old who did it and not him,” he said.