Teenager remanded after manslaughter charge
A 16-year-old boy appeared in court today charged with the manslaughter of an English man whose body was found in the west of Dublin at the weekend.
The Tallaght teenager, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was charged at the Children’s Court with the unlawful killing of Mr James Burke, a 21-year-old Londoner, on September 23, at Quarryville, in west Dublin.
Garda Sergeant Noel Doolan, of Ronanstown Station told Judge Catherine Murphy that he arrested the teenager at his home 12.02am today. The teen was then taken to Ronanstown Garda Station where he was charged in the presence of his father.
He made no reply to the charge when cautioned.
The teenager was supported in court by his mother and a number of relatives.
Gda-Sgt Doolan applied for the teenager to be remanded in custody due to the seriousness of the charges.
He also applied for a remand in custody due to fears of a possible interference with the main witness, the teens’ girlfriend, in the case.
He told Judge Murphy that the witness has been the defendant’s girlfriend for a number of years and he had threatened her twice over the weekend.
“He has made contact with her since the event and has told her ‘I will make your life hell if you tell anybody what happened'.”
The teenager had contacted her twice, once by mobile phone, and then he later met her in person when the alleged threats were again stated, said Gda Sgt Doolan.
Defence solicitor Mr Christopher Ryan made an application for bail for his client.
He said that the teenager had gone to the Garda Station on Saturday and made a full and frank statement.
He said that he did not believe the alleged threats were grounds for a remand in custody as the boy and his girlfriend later went to the gardaí.
The teenager, dressed in a hooded top and tracksuit bottoms, and his mother interrupted the proceedings denying the threat allegations.
Judge Murphy called for order in the court.
The teenager later told the court: “I swear to God really I would never say anything.”
Legal aid was granted and Judge Murphy refused bail.
The teenager was remanded in custody to St Patrick’s Institution to appear again next week.
Mr Burke, originally from London came over to Dublin in August to live with family members in the Tallaght area, a relative who was at the court said today.
“He came here to start a new life,” the man said.
