This article is from page 1 of the 2007-09-18 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 1 JPG
has revealed in a special investiga- tion into juvenile crime in Clare.
While gardai are satisfied that rates of crime committed by juveniles have not spiralled out of control, there are concerns that three teenage members of one family are creating havoc in Ennis.
Several members of the family have
been before the courts on a number of occasions over the past few years, for a variety of offences. One has ad- mitted to dozens of offences, includ- ing theft, damage to schools and cars and public order, while his two sib- lings are also facing several charges.
Their disregard for the law and their ability to continuously re-of- fend is a major cause for concern for gardai in the town.
The trio have come before the Chil- dren’s Court on dozens of charges, after they repeatedly came to garda
attention over a considerable period of time. Garda sources say that two other Ennis families also account for a significant amount of crime detect- ete aetomKOn 20
When it comes to young offenders, bullying, robbing schoolchildren of their money, shoplifting, damage to property and minor drug offences are the main problems identified by gardai in Clare.
Agencies that work with children at risk say poor family support is at the core of a large percentage of ju-
venile crime. Other prevalent factors include alcohol consumption, drug use, peer pressure and lack of edu- cation.
During the first eight months of this year, 41 young people were before the courts in the county. Many of those who appeared are facing a string of charges and all have come through the Juvenile Diversion Programme, which deals with young offenders by means other than prosecution.