Teenager pleads guilty to setting fire to a blanket on the stairs of his aunt’s house
A TEENAGER (15) set fire to a blanket on the stairs in his aunt's house, Tallaght Court has heard.
The teenager was before Judge Patricia McNamara for a probation report.
He was accompanied in court by his mother and two key workers.
The teenager, who has an address in Tallaght, pleaded guilty to stealing 24 bottles of alcohol worth €24 from Centra, Old Bawn, Tallaght, on February 20, 2018.
He also pleaded guilty to damaging a blanket on a stairwell in a house in Tallaght on July 12, 2018.
The teenager also pleaded guilty to possession of a glass breaker for use in theft at the above house in Tallaght also on July 12 last.
Judge McNamara told the teenager that it was a good probation report.
She said: “I see that you are not hanging around anymore with the groups you used to get into trouble with.”
Sergeant Eithne Madden told Judge McNamara that on February 20 last the teenager entered Centra in Old Bawn and took a case of beer worth €24 and left without paying for it.
She said the property was recovered.
She added that on July 12 last the gardai received a call to go to a house in an estate in Tallaght.
Sgt Madden said the teenager had set fire to a blanket on a stairs in his aunt’s house.
She said the fire had been put out and added that the teenager had been found in possession of a glass breaker.
Judge McNamara said: “The fire, that must have been a frightening thing for his aunt to have to put up with.”
The court heard that the teenager had since apologised to his aunt.
His solicitor, Michael Hennessy, told Judge McNamara that his client was doing well.
He added that the teen had requested to be put into detention in Oberstown and this had been a good experience for him.
Judge McNamara remanded the teenager on continuing bail to a date in April to finalise the case.
