This article is from page 78 of the 2007-06-19 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 78 JPG
A 15-YEAR-OLD boy who has cre- ated fear in the community in Shan- non has been sentenced to two years of detention.
The boy pleaded guilty to several charges including damaging a car, entering various premises as a tres- passer and stealing property.
He admitted entering the Shannon Knights pub as a trespasser and steal- ing alcohol and crisps last October. On another occasion, he entered the Same premises and stole five bottles of vodka and three cans of red bull.
He also admitted stealing €40 in cash from a house 1n Shannon in No- vember and stealing a mobile phone from Texaco, Shannon, on Septem- ber 28 last.
The boy was released on bail in April after a court heard that a team of professionals concluded that he should be put back into the commu- nity under a strict regime.
On that occasion his solicitor Eileen Whelan pointed out that the boy had been “caught on time” and she ex- pressed hope that he would “turn out to be a decent citizen”.
She said he had spent two months
in custody and the experience fright- ened him. ‘“He’s got the sharp shock that he needed,” she told the court in April. She said he was using drugs and al- cohol at the time of the offences. The boy was granted bail with con- ditions attached. However, he was brought before the court again after he came to the notice of gardai. Shannon District Court was told on Thursday that the boy re-offended one week after he was allowed out into the community on bail. Defending solicitor, Eileen Whelan, said her client was pleading guilty to
a number of offences.
‘He has been in custody for the last five weeks. He wants this mat- ter to be dealt with today. He is well aware of what he has done. The time in custody has benefited him,’ said Ms Whelan.
‘He is well aware he has caused a fear in the community as a result of his behaviour. He wants to deal with his actions,’ she said.
Judge Joseph Mangan imposed a two year detention sentence on the boy and fixed a bond in the event of an appeal. He refused a request to backdate the sentence to May.