16-year-old charged with Aidan O'Kane murder
10/12/2008 - 16:48:26A 16-year-old boy was brought before the Children’s Court today charged with the murder of Dubliner Aidan O‘Kane, who was shot dead at the weekend.
Father of one Aidan O’Kane, a mechanic who was aged 50, died following a row with teenagers near his home at Shelmalier Road, in Dublin on Sunday evening last.
Dressed in a hooded grey and black Adidas tracksuit, the north east inner city Dublin boy, who cannot be named because he is a juvenile, was brought by gardaí into the tiny courtroom at 3.52pm.
In a hearing lasting just under five minutes, the boy, who was accompanied to the case, by his middle-aged parents, remained silent as Judge Bryan Smyth heard details of his arrest.
Detective Sergeant Martin Connolly told Judge Smyth that he arrested the teen at 2.25pm today at Store Street Garda station for the “offence of murder contrary to common law”.
The slender teenager, who is about 5' 5" tall with mousey brown hair, was charged at 2.35pm in the presence of his parents after which he made “no reply”. Both the teenage defendant and his parents were given a true copy of the charge. Det. Sgt Connolly applied to make a minor amendment to the charge sheet in relation to the boy’s date of birth.
Defence solicitor Ms Margaret McEvilly consented to the request. The date of birth was then corrected, with the court hearing the boy was aged 16 years.
The teenager remained silent and impassive during the brief hearing during which he looked around at his parents sitting on a bench at the back of the courtroom and then to the garda giving evidence.
Det. Sgt Connolly told Judge Smyth he was applying for a remand in custody for one week.
Judge Smyth, noting the defendant’s age, said the place of remand would St Patrick’s Institution.
As he was preparing his order, Ms McEvilly asked him to recommend medical attention for the boy. She said he was on “specific medication and perhaps he can see medics on arriving at St Patrick’s Institution.”
Judge Smyth agreed to recommend medical assistance and remanded the teen in custody to appear again at the Children’s Court on December 17 next.
He granted legal aid to the boy to which there was no Garda objection.
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