This article is from page 22 of the 2008-05-13 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 22 JPG
A 17-YEAR-OLD WHO broke into a house and school in Shannon whilst on a cocktail of drugs and alcohol has been handed a six-month deten- tion term. However, the boy will not serve time if he is found suitable for community service.
The boy pleaded guilty to several charges, including burglary, theft and criminal damage, in Shannon.
He admitted criminal damage and theft at St John’s national school and damaging a glass window of a house at Drumgeely Hill, on December 22 last.
He also pleaded guilty to stealing a jumper from a woman’s clothes line, on January 2 last.
Garda David Laing told the court that a number of burglaries were car- ried out in the Drumgeely area of Shannon on December 22.
The first of these was St John’s School, where the accused broke a window at the back and entered the building with another youth. A class- room was ransacked, items were thrown across the floor but nothing was taken.
The boy then went to a house at Drumgeely Hill, along with three others. A hatchet was used to break
a garden shed door.
The accused then moved to another house at Drumgeely Hill, where a hatchet was used to break glass. A lamp, goldfish bowl and plasma tel- evision were taken.
He was disturbed by the occupants, after they arrived home from a shop- ping trip. In that house, he stole a one dollar bill from the Central Bank in Trinidad and Tobago and a small dagger. He was later arrested and gardai found the one dollar bill and dagger on his property.
“The day he committed the bur- glaries he was under the influence of drink, possibly drugs,’ said the
garda.
Three other juveniles who were in- volved with him that afternoon were dealt with under the juvenile liaison programme, which deals with young offenders by cautioning them.
Defending solicitor Caitriona Car- mody said her client had a “dysfunc- tional” upbringing.
“He was drinking on the night of the break-in to the school and house. He was on a cocktail of drugs and al- cohol. His life was a mess. He took the jumper to wear,’ she said.
A social worker with the Health Service Executive, who has worked with the boy, said he was “a polite and
well-mannered young man. He wants to make something of his life.”
The boy told the court he started taking ecstacy when he was about 15 years of age. Initially he did not take the drug regularly, but he did “get more into it” as time progressed.
Judge Joseph Mangan imposed a six-month detention sentence in St Patrick’s Institution, but said he would substitute it with 240 hours community service, if the boy is suit- able for it.
He said he wants the boy to be screened for drugs and wants to see compensation addressed. He ad- journed the case until next month.