Boy, 15, had €40k worth of cannabis in gym bag, court told

He was also charged under Section 15A of the Misuse of Drugs Act for having drugs worth more than €13,000, which can on conviction result in a harsher sentence.

Dublin Children’s Court heard the teenager made no reply when he was charged.

The Director of Public Prosecutions has recommended the boy should be tried in the Circuit Court which has tougher sentencing powers. However, the Children’s Court can consider accepting jurisdiction by taking into account the boy’s age and level of maturity.

Giving a summary of the evidence, Garda Sergeant Tom Powell told Judge Brendan Toale a surveillance operation was conducted.

The teen was seen cycling on his bike and “looking around vigorously”.

He was carrying a holdall bag and when gardai went to search him he told them it contained his gym gear and that he had just come from the gym.

Gardai found two kilos of cannabis in the bag.

He told gardai during an interview that he had been told to "bring it to the block of flats and place it in a bush".

Defence solicitor Aonghus McCarthy submitted that the aggravating feature of the case was the value of the drugs.

He said the teen was not a person who could be deemed to be head of a sophisticated criminal enterprise.

A compelling argument for accepting jurisdiction was the youth’s age and level of maturity, the solicitor said.

He said a social worker who has been appointed to the boy may be able to address that issue.

Judge Toale adjourned the case until a date in March for a report to be provided or for the social worker to come to court.

The boy, who was accompanied to the hearing by his mother, was remanded on continuing bail.

He has not yet indicated how he will plead.