Violent youth arrested after tip-off by mother

AN out-of-control youth who took part in robberies in which staff were beaten with a pole and a glass bottle and threatened with a syringe was turned in by his own mother.

The 17-year-old boy has been charged with taking part in two ‘brutal’ robberies and, appearing before Dublin Children’s Court, has been sent forward for trial at the Circuit Court.

Aged 16 when he carried out the violent shop thefts on February 5 last, he had allegedly taken a cocktail of drink and drugs before going on his spree. He was arrested on the evening the offences after his mother contacted gardaí.

The defence pleaded for the case to remain in the juvenile court citing the teen’s educational, psychological and drug addiction issues. Defence solicitor Brian Keenan said the teen was ‘holding his hands up to both incidents’. However, refusing jurisdiction Judge John O’Connor agreed with the view of the DPP that the case should be sent to the Circuit Court.

The boy appeared at the juvenile court yesterday, when he was served with a book of evidence. In an outline of the allegations, Garda Kevin Cassidy told Judge O’Connor it was alleged at 5.20pm the boy and another male entered a shop at Mercer Street. The teen had a pole and repeatedly used it beat the shop worker, it was alleged. The second raider, not before the court, was armed with a syringe, the court heard during a preliminary hearing.

It was alleged they fled with €144 from the till and also took receipts. One of the shop workers was left cut, bleeding and bruised, the court heard.

It was alleged the teen went home and changed clothes and left again, however his mother then alerted the gardaí. Upon his return from a botched robbery of a shop on Bride Street, in which he smashed a glass bottle over a staff member’s head, he was arrested.