A JUDGE at the Children’s Court in Dublin yesterday granted bail to a 15-year-old only on condition that he stay away from head shops and from using their products.
Evidence was given that the teenager stole to fund his purchases at head shops and has been granted bail pending sentence, by Judge Heather Perrin.
The north Dublin teenager pleaded guilty yesterday to theft of a mobile phone from a man on April 6th last, at Wellington Quay. He also admitted stealing a handbag from a woman, on O’Connell Bridge, on March 23rd.
He pleaded guilty to separate charges for failing to turn up to court and for failing to comply with a garda’s direction under the Public Order Act to leave the vicinity of a inner city street where a youth had thrown an object at a patrol car.
Defence solicitor Gareth Noble told Judge Perrin that his client was accompanied to his case by his grandmother, with whom he lives, as well as two social workers, who had been providing him with assistance.
Mr Noble said the boy was functioning on the educational level of a nine-year-old and had “become immersed in a head shop culture” which was at the root of his difficulties. “The snatches that took place were to fund that difficulty,” Mr Noble said.
His client had been associating with older city centre youths who were frequently before the court.This had been in breach of his bail conditions and resulted in the teen being remanded in custody four weeks ago.
Mr Noble said the boy was now seeking bail and intervention from the Probation and Welfare Service, which was familiar with his family background through dealings with his older brother.
The court also heard that social services would continue to work with the boy to help him with his problems. There was no Garda objection to bail.
Judge Perrin ordered him to obey a 10pm-8am curfew.