16-year-old’s PlayStation row sparks shotgun siege
DOMESTIC DRAMA AS GARDAÍ CALLED TO END CRISIS
GARDAÍ became involved in a 54-hour siege with an armed teenager after his parents removed his PlayStation.
According to a security source, the 16-year-old schoolboy refused to stop playing with the games console.
He gained access to a relative’s shotgun and was alone in the house near Letterkenny, Co. Donegal during the standoff, which ended with Garda intervention.
A 16-YEAR-OLD schoolboy became embroiled in a 54-hour armed stand-off with gardaí after his parents took his PlayStation off him, the Irish Mail on Sunday has learned.
A source told the MoS: ‘His parents wanted him to get off his PlayStation, but he didn’t want to do that and what followed was a three-day-long stand-off with gardaí.
‘It has been a terrible time for his family. There are clearly underlying
‘We feared the worst as the days went on’
issues here, but thankfully nobody was hurt.’
The youth was being questioned yesterday by gardaí after the siege began at around 5.45pm on Wednesday in the quiet Letterkenny suburb of Woodlands.
Shortly afterwards, gardaí requested a full media blackout on the incident.
The stand-off continued until 12.30am yesterday following what was described as a ‘tactical intervention by the Garda Emergency Response Unit’. A source said: ‘The parents wanted him to get off the computer and get out for some fresh air as parents do, but he didn’t want to do that, naturally enough.
‘A big row started and ended with this siege that went on and on. Trained negotiators were engaging with him over the course of the three-day siege and thankfully the incident concluded without anyone getting hurt.’
Details of how gardaí managed to get the youth out of the house have not been released.
The teen, who had access to a shotgun which was legally held by a relative, was alone in the house during the operation. The road to the family home was cordoned off and the emergency services – including ambulance personnel – remained there throughout.
Neighbours were moved to a local hotel as a precaution.
A Garda spokesperson said: ‘No persons were injured during this operation and a shotgun and ammunition have been safely secured at the scene.
‘The male teenager has been arrested and is currently detained under section 4 Criminal Justice Act 1984 at a Garda Station in Co.
Donegal, where he is receiving medical assessment.
‘An Garda Síochána was supported by consultant psychiatrists, Central Mental Hospital, Dundrum, and staff from Tusla Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) and worked closely with the immediate family and wider community in the area.’
A close neighbour added: ‘We feared the worst as the hours and days went on. Thankfully it is over now and nobody was harmed.’