Teen offender on bail for diversion programme
A teenaged repeat offender, who is taking part in a comprehensive crime diversion programme, has been released on continuing bail for three months.
The out-of-school north inner city Dublin boy (16) has 28 criminal convictions for offences mostly committed while he was on bail, the Children’s Court had heard.
However, the court heard that since commencing the “breaking the cycle” programme, he has shown great improvement.
In February, he was granted bail on condition that he took part in the crime diversion programme.
The plan involves the boy attending a residential centre in Cavan for troubled youths for five days a week.
At weekends, when he comes back to Dublin he is to stay with his sister and not at his home address where he had been under the influence of adverse peer groups.
While in Dublin for two days a week he has to obey a nightly curfew from 8 pm to 7am. He must also attend a training course one day a week in Dublin before returning to the centre in Cavan.
On Sundays he must engage in programmes where he is to spend time with a “mentor” a volunteer civilian who is to involve the teen in healthy activities.
He had been in the Dublin Children’s Court on a fortnightly basis over the last year.
From October 2003 there have been seven bench warrants and the charges range from burglary, to car thefts, failing to appear in court, criminal damage, possession of a knife, robbery and theft.
He had also committed a burglary two hours after he was granted bail at the start of the year.
The teen’s father, an unemployed single parent, had his done his best to manage the boy could not control him, the court was told.
A positive probation report on the teen’s recent conduct was furnished to the court today. Judge Catherine Murphy said she was pleased with the teen’s progress and adjourned the case with bail for three months for a further review.
