This article is from page 6 of the 2013-12-10 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 6 JPG
A TEENAGER has asked a Judge to lock him up for Christmas so he can get help for his drug addiction.
The 18 year-old made the request through his solicitor at Ennis District Court on Wednesday. The boy was previously ordered to complete 120 hours of community service in lieu of two months detention. The order was imposed in respect of a shoplifting offence whereby the teenager stole a jumper worth € 14 from Dunne Stores, Ennis on September 8, 2013. The case was adjourned to allow for a report from the Probation Serv- ices. But on Wednesday solicitor Tara Godfrey said her client was asking for the sentence at St Patrick’s Institution for Young Offenders to be activated instead of the community service order. Ms Godfrey said her client had developed a “pernicious addiction to weed” and believes the best thing for him is to get off the streets of Ennis. “He says he will get help there (St Pats). He says he needs it and he wants it”, Ms Godfrey added. Ms Godfrey said this was the first time a person of her client’s age had asked her to make such an application to the courts. “He doesn’t trust himself at liberty at this time,” she said. Judge Patrick Durcan asked the teenager if he had ever spent time in St Patrick’s Institution before. The accused told Judge Durcan he had spent a few months there. Inspector Tom Kennedy said it was not open to the accused to come into court and tell the court what orders to impose. “Its rather incredible really” he added. Insp Kennedy continued, “He should do what he is asked to do by the court.” He said it was not open to the teenager to treat the court in an “a la carte” manner. Probation Officer Paula McNamara told the court she would require time to speak with the accused. Judge Durcan adjourned the case to December 11.