Drunken teen used stolen car to ram gardai
Saturday January 17 2009
SENTENCING of a 15-year-old boy, who was almost twice the legal drink drive limit when he crashed a stolen car into a patrol vehicle injuring two gardai, has been adjourned until March.
The boy, who wants to become a mechanic, had pleaded guilty last month at the Dublin Children's Court to charges for driving stolen cars, dangerous driving, driving over the legal drink drive limit and having no insurance or licence, on dates in August and October last year.
Judge Ann Ryan adjourned the case until March to allow further time for the Probation Service to work with the boy and to prepare a pre-sentencing report.
The boy, who was accompanied to court by his mother, was remanded on continuing bail.
Charges for attempted theft of alcoholic drinks from a north Dublin shop, in December, after his last court appearance for the drink driving offence, were also put back to the same date. Judge Ryan warned him that in the meantime he must "stay out of trouble."
injuries
During the boy's hearing last month, the court heard that two gardai received minor injuries and were off work for two days as a result of the crash at Ratoath Road, in north Dublin, on August 22 last.
When arrested a short time later, the teen was taken to Finglas Garda station where a blood test showed nearly twice the legal drink drive limit.
On October 22 last, the boy was arrested, and later pleaded guilty to driving another stolen car at Dunsink.
The boy had also pleaded guilty to being intoxicated to such an extent that he was a danger to himself and others, in Finglas, on September 4 last.
The court heard that the boy's offending stemmed from alcohol abuse.
He had no prior convictions but had been cautioned and was previously remanded in custody by the court for educational and psychological assessments to be carried out.
In mitigation, it was submitted by the defence earlier that the teenager had "turned a corner" and realised the seriousness of the offences.
He hoped to enrol on a training course and wanted to become a mechanic. The boy has already been given a two-year road ban for the collision with the gardai.
hnews@herald.ie
- Tom Tuite
