‘Bring your suitcase’ warning

A TEENAGER, with 23 previous convictions, who trespassed at a Drogheda secondary school was warned by a judge to ‘ bring your suitcase’ when he is to appear before the court again in October.

Judge John Coughlan told Lee Smith (18) the ‘proper way to deal with this case is custody - subject to what I see’ in an updated Probation Report which is due before the court later in the year.

‘He is an alleged serial criminal and has to be dealt with accordingly,’ remarked the judge at Drogheda District Court.

The defendant’s solicitor, Dermot Monahan handed in a report from the Probation Services which requested a six month adjournment on the finalisation of the case to allow the teenager engage with anger management courses and drug counselling and for a further report.

‘He is in engaging with the Probation Services and he is motivated,’ said Mr Monahan.

The court previously heard the teen, who has 23 previous convictions, was caught trespassing at St Oliver’s Community College late in the night on July 21st, 2016 but ran away when gardai arrived at the scene.

The defendant, of Beechwood Drive in Drogheda, was apprehended a short time later.

Mr Monahan had told the court the teenager left school when he was 13 but got mixed up with drugs.

‘He is off drugs now and is making efforts to stay away from peers who are a bad influence on him.’

Adjourning the case until October 6th for the updated report, Judge Coughlan reiterated ‘Bring your suitcase’ before the defendant left the courtroom.