This article is from page 16 of the 2009-05-12 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 16 JPG
AN out-of-control 17-year-old boy who is ‘running wild’ around En- nis went berserk and threatened to smash up his mother’s home last Fri- day morning, a court has heard.
The 17-year-old, who cannot be named because of his age, 1s ac- cused of public order offences and a theft matter, arising from two sepa- rate incidents last week.
He was on bail at the time, having been charged with a public order of- fence last month.
Defending solicitor Tara Godfrey said her client was pleading guilty
to the public order charges.
Inspector Michael Gallagher told Ennis District Court on Friday that gardai had responded to a call at the boy’s home at lam that morning.
He said that the boy’s mother was distraught and shocked after the ac- cused went berserk and threatened to smash up their home. She had col- lected him from town at 12.30am. When the boy became aware that the gardai were being called, he fled. He initially could not be lo- cated, but later returned home and screamed and roared. He was taken to the Garda station, where his ag- gression continued.
Ms Godfrey said that there have been on-and-off difficulties with her client over the past two years.
‘They have reached crisis point in the last six months. His mother has indicated that she cannot allow the situation to continue in that regard. She would be suggesting that he would have to leave the home,’ she SrHTOR
Inspector Gallagher said that while the boy has no previous convictions, he was dealt with under the juvenile liaison programme in the past.
In court last month, Inspector Gal- lagher described the public order offence, with which the boy was
charged on that occasion, as one of the worst such matters he had come across.
On that occasion, the boy was granted bail, with strict conditions, including that he abide by a curfew. ‘He hasn’t abided by the curfew. I genuinely feel sorry for his mother,” said Inspector Gallagher last Fri- day.
“The young fella is just running wild around town. He’s out of con- trol,” he added.
Ms Godfrey accepted that this couldn’t be denied.
The boy told the court that he was drunk when he committed the of-
fences last Friday morning. It was unacceptable to do it to my mother,” he said.
Asked by Judge Joseph Mangan does he take drugs, he said, “Some- times I smoke weed and hash.”
He was asked did he blame alco- hol for what had happened and said, “It’s the drink, but it’s half myself as well.”
Judge Mangan remanded the boy in custody to St Patrick’s Institution for a week and ordered that a Proba- tion report be carried out.
Free legal aid was granted, after the boy’s mother told the court she was unable to meet his legal fees.