Boy (14) attempted school burglary placed on 6-month Probation Bond
By Brendan Grehan
A BOY (14) who attempted to burgle a National School in Tallaght has been placed on a six-month Probation Bond by Tallaght Court.
Judge Patricia McNamara heard that the boy’s sister’s boyfriend had recently been murdered and that his elder brother had been killed a number of years ago.
The boy was before Judge McNamara for a probation report.
The boy, who has an address in Tallaght, had pleaded guilty to simple possession of cannabis at a location in Tallaght on April 20, 2017.
He had also pleaded guilty to possession of a screwdriver with intent to commit theft and attempted burglary at a national school in Tallaght on April 27, 2017.
The court had heard that at 1pm on April 27 last, the boy and another boy entered the grounds of the school while there was a number of children playing on their break.
They attempted to force open a window with a screwdriver and then attempted to force open a second window before they were confronted by the principal of the school.
Judge McNamara told the boy: “I have read the report in full. You have been doing well.”
Sergeant Michael Aherne said the teenager had received a two-year disqualification for dangerous driving from an incident on January 14, 2016. He said the boy would have been 12 at the time.
The boy’s solicitor, Michael Hennessy, said his client’s sister’s boyfriend had recently been murdered and the boy’s brother had been killed a number of years ago.
Mr Hennessy said the boy’s mother had raised the family on her own and had also worked full-time.
Judge McNamara told the boy; “You have had a difficult time. But you have come out of it a wiser man.”.
Referring to the attempted burglary she said: ”It wasn’t the most serious matter but it wasn’t a nice incident.”
She placed the boy on a Probation Bond of €50 for six months and on condition that he works with the probation services, that he does not take drugs and that he does not engage with “previously identified negative peer groups”.
