This article is from page 10 of the 2011-12-13 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 10 JPG
A 17-YEAR-OLD girl who got involved in “very bad company” in Ennistymon has been told by a judge that she is “on a very slippery slope”.
The girl pleaded guilty to entering the Old Convent, Deerpark, Ennistymon, as a trespasser, on October 28, 2010.
On October 31, 2010, she and another individual were involved in an incident in which a car had a front window broken, while the front seat was set on fire.
The court heard the cost of the damage amounted to € 800.
Superintendent Colm O’Sullivan told Ennistymon District Court last Wednesday that the girl went into the convent with a number of other youths “for the purpose of drinking”.
“Somebody in the group lit a fire to warm themselves,” he said.
Judge Aeneas McCarthy said that the Probation report on the accused was “very positive”.
The court heard that girl had a number of previous convictions.
Her solicitor Gearóid Williams said that the girl was aged 16 at the time of some of the offences.
“She used to come to Ennistymon. She mixed in very bad company. She spent time in Oberstown.
Since then there has been a considerable change,” Mr Williams told the court.
“She is now availing of the opportunities she is being given,” said Mr Williams.
He said that the girl has not been in Ennistymon in recent times.
“The difficulty is when she goes to Ennistymon she gets involved in bad company, much older people,” he said.
He said that his client has not been involved in any incidents since August and is now a “completely differ- ent” person.
The girl’s social worker told the court that she has made a “huge improvement” since she spent time in Oberstown.
Judge McCarthy placed the girl on 12 months probation.
“You seem to be making progress,” he told her.
“You are on a very slippery slope at a very young age.
“The court will not be as lenient with you in the future.
“I am taking a chance with you and I hope you take the chance you are getting,” said the judge addressing the teenager.