Boy, 15, accused of swallowing bag of crack cocaine
A 15-year-old Dublin boy has been charged with hampering a drug search by swallowing a bag of crack cocaine.
The boy appeared at the Dublin Children's Court today charged under the Misuse of Drugs Act.
The youngster is accused of obstructing a garda during the course of a drug seizure on May 28 last in north Dublin. The charge also said that he allegedly impeded the search by “swallowing a controlled substance”.
Garda Niamh Hobbs told Judge John O'Connor that the boy, who was accompanied to his hearing by his mother, “made no reply” when he was charged.
She told Judge O'Connor that the drug was crack cocaine, “one bag worth €25.”
The teenager, who did not address the court, was granted legal aid and his solicitor Kelly Breen asked for an adjournment and for an order compelling the prosecution to hand over a summary of its evidence.
Judge O'Connor agreed to make the order and remanded the boy on bail to appear again next month when he is to enter a plea to the charge.
The boy admitted a Public Order Act offence for failing to comply with a direction to move on following an incident where he was among a group of youths who were shouting verbal abuse at a female garda last month.
The court heard that after the garda cautioned him to leave the vicinity he returned and was arrested. However, he became co-operative and apologised.
The judge asked for a pre-sentence report on the teenager who has already been referred to the Probation Service in relation to earlier offences has also been given a sentence previously.
