Teen remanded after treating bail as 'a complete joke'
A 13-year-old boy, whose mother has alleged once tried to run her over while driving a dumper truck, has been remanded into custody after a court heard that he had “treated his bail conditions as a complete joke”.
The teen had been held in custody since the end of May for psychological and educational assessments to be carried out. Two weeks ago he had been granted bail with strict conditions compelling him to remain out of the Blanchardstown area, obey a nightly curfew from 6pm to 9am. He had also been ordered to reside with his mother at all times, the Dublin Children's Court heard.
The young boy, who is from north Dublin, is facing charges for driving without a licence or insurance.
Garda Jim McDevitt told Judge Bryan Smyth yesterday that the boy had broken all of the bail conditions. “I called to his home twice and he was not present. His mother has confirmed that he has been in Blanchardstown and had not been at home for several days,” he said.
“He’s taking the bail conditions as a complete joke,” he added while applying to the court to revoke the boy’s bail.
Judge Smyth remanded the boy in custody to Oberstown Boys’ Centre for one week.
He had been first remanded in custody in May after his mother said he was constantly taking part in drinking binges and car thefts.
Her son, she had alleged earlier, had tried to run her over while driving a dumper truck. He had been constantly running away from home and getting drunk.
“When I found him, I had to tie a rope around his waist so he wouldn’t run away, while I was bringing him to the garda station. He was going in drinking binges, drinking and robbing cars.”
As a result of the boy's disappearances, she frequently had to get friends and relatives to mind her other children as she searched the streets for him.
She also said that once after a drinking binge her son came home at midday. He awoke on the following afternoon and thought he had been asleep for just two hours.
“One day I found him in a stolen dumper truck and he tried to run me over,” she had also said.
