Teenage car thief who ‘turned himself around’ given community service

Tom Tuite

A youth who suffered childhood trauma but “turned himself around” after a spate of motor theft incidents, has been spared jail.

The teenager was ordered to carry out community service and has received a 10-month suspended sentence.

The then 17-year-old admitted stealing a car in west Dublin, dangerous driving, and possessing an angle grinder and screwdriver to commit an offence on January 21st.

He was spotted driving it “at high speed” before he and two others abandoned the car.

The teenager stole another car in Dundrum on February 10th but got out around the corner and smashed its window.

On the same date attempted to steal a classic Ford Cortina from a south Dublin business park.

The youth, now 18 and accompanied to court by his father, had five prior convictions for criminal damage and was nearing the end of a four-month sentence.

Pleading for leniency, defence solicitor Brian Keenan asked the court to note the teenager had suffered childhood trauma after finding his mother had passed away.

He had been diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, oppositional defiant disorder and post-traumatic stress disorder.

He had engaged with child and adolescent mental health services in custody, and the teen now acknowledged that he had issues with his peer group.

The solicitor said the youth engaged well with the Probation Service, has also taken part in educational and training courses and has “shown he can turn himself around”.

The teen told Judge Kelly he had earned a safe pass and wanted to get a job.

Judge Kelly ordered him to carry out 60 hours of community service instead of a three-month sentence for the January 21st incident.

Further sentences totalling ten months were handed down for the remaining charges but suspended on the condition he did not re-offend within the next year.

He was warned to comply with Probation Service and Tusla aftercare directions.

His father addressed the court and said he would be taking his son to live with him and that he wanted him to be barred from parts of south and west Dublin, adding, “he has no reason to be there”.

The judge noted the teenager might need to work there, but at the request of gardaí, he agreed to restrict the youth from being around the quays in Dublin city centre.