Teenager charged with theft in New Ross supermarket

A 15-YEAR- OLD boy appeared before Judge Gerard Haughton at the District Court in Gorey on a theft charge.

But the judge made it clear that he had no intention of punishing the teenager if it turned out that he was acting under orders from an adult or adults.

The defendant was aged 14 at the time that the shoplifting occurred at supermarkets in Bunclody and New Ross.

The judge noted that the youth had made off in a car with a Northern Ireland registration which appeared to belong to his parents.

The accused boy’s mother was in court to tell the defending barrister that the vehicle was driven on that occasion by her sister but no name of the driver was passed on to the court.

Judge Haughton made clear his opinion that the defendant should not remain in the care of his parents if it turned out that they were behind the crimes.

‘I am not going to punish the defendant for the actions of adults,’ said the judge, adjourning the matter to October 11.