Medics called as panicked boy begs judge for sentence
An ambulance was called to the Dublin Children’s Court today to assist a 15-year-old boy who burst into a hysterical fit of tears begging the judge to sentence him.
Charges for theft of cars, trespassing, criminal damage and public order violations have accumulated since 2005, when the boy, then aged 12, made his first court appearance. In another incident the court heard that the troubled teen threatened to “burn down his room with him in it.”
Today amid emotional scenes, the court heard that after being arrested on Saturday last for breaking into a car he had been remanded in custody. Defence counsel Ms Mary O’Sullivan said the teenager, who has health problems wanted his cases to “be finalised today.”
However, Judge Clare Leonard said that would not be possible given the volume of charges and the number of welfare reports. “I will have to put all matters in for one day,” she said holding a thick file containing his charges and probation reports.
“Can you please sentence me now” the teen interjected but the judge refused saying all charges would be put back until September.
At that point the boy, who has developed a drink problem, suddenly burst into tears. His father was present while his mother was outside the courtroom looking after other children.
“Please” he begged loudly.
“No proper services have been made available to him,” his counsel said.
The boy covered his face with his hands and continued sobbing then looked up and yelled to his father at the back of the court, “Will you get my Ma.”
He pulled up his T-shirt to wipe away the streams of tears from his face and continued whimpering for a few seconds.
“Hold on don’t get upset,” the judge said. “I think we may need medical attention, could we ask for a doctor.”
A court Garda rushed out to call for an ambulance. Meanwhile, the boy again started crying and from behind his handkerchief covered face he roared for his mother. “Get my ma please, get my ma, get my ma. Please I’m begging for my ma. Can I talk to my ma for a minute? Please” he sobbed as his father looked away.
The proceedings then took a brief recess to allow paramedics to see the boy. When the case resumed about a half hour later, he came back into court, composed.
Judge Leonard proceeded to sentence him on one of the many charges he was facing.
She detained him for two-and-a-half months’ for a theft offence. During the incident the boy had stolen a mobile phone and a ring after he jumped over the counter of a shop in Ballyfermot. The remaining charges were adjourned until September.
Last year the boy had been remanded in custody for four weeks to the National Remand and Assessment Centre, in Finglas, Dublin, for behavioural assessments to be carried out.
Earlier, the boy’s mother had said her son, who was out of mainstream education, was supposed to be attending a training course. Every morning he would get a bus to go to the course, but when she would later check if he arrived there she would find that he had not turned up and was missing.
She had also told the court that she often spent her time “searching the streets for him” and he had been constantly running away from home and breaking a court-imposed curfew.
During his case, psychological assessments had been ordered.
In early 2006 the mother of the then 12-year-old boy had asked a judge to let her son see what it was like to be behind bars and pleaded with the court to remand him in custody.
