Detention for boy who led Gardaí on high speed chase

By Isabel Hayes

A teenage boy who stole cars and led police on a dangerous high-speed pursuit in suburban Dublin on two separate occasions last year has been sentenced to two years in detention.

The 16-year-old boy, who can’t be named because he is a juvenile, drove on the wrong side of the road, went down dual carriage slipways into oncoming traffic and caused two gardaí to jump over a barrier to avoid being knocked down during the two incidents in July and October last year.

The boy pleaded guilty to a range of charges in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court on Friday.

In relation to the first incident, he pleaded guilty to two counts of endangerment, four counts of dangerous driving, one count of taking a car without the owner’s consent, one count of failing to stop and one count of driving without a licence at various locations in western Dublin on July 31, 2023.

He further pleaded guilty to failing to produce a driver’s licence or certificate of insurance. He was 15 years old at the time.

In relation to the second incident three months later, the boy pleaded guilty to endangerment, dangerous driving, taking a car without the owner’s consent, driving without insurance and possessing items that were used to steal a car on October 27, 2023. He was 16 during this incident and on bail at the time, the court heard.

The pleas were entered on a full facts basis. He has 13 previous convictions including dangerous driving, trespass and possessing stolen property, the court heard. He has been detained in Oberstown juvenile centre since last October.

Sentencing him on Friday, Judge Martin Nolan said that while the boy was of an immature age, “he must have known what he was doing was wrong and dangerous”. He described his actions as “grossly irresponsible”.

“It was very, very dangerous to the people who were affected by his behaviour,” he said.

The judge noted the Children Act states that children must only be detained as a last resort, but he also took into account the fact the boy has a record of offending and is currently receiving education and other supports in Oberstown.

He detained him for two years, backdating it to when the boy first went into custody. “This is one of your last chances,” he told the boy. “If you appear before this court again, you won’t be going to Oberstown. You’ll be going to another place that is much more difficult.”

The boy nodded his head and thanked the judge.

Garda Kevin Gallagher told Patrick McCullough BL, prosecuting, that on the evening of July 31, a Toyota car was stolen from Tesco in Maynooth and was spotted by gardai driving erratically in Dublin later that night.

A pursuit ensued with the boy, who was the sole occupant of the stolen car, driving away from gardaí at high speed. Over the ensuing 15 minutes, the garda pursuit had to be repeatedly called off as the boy drove at high speeds, went down the wrong side of a national road slipway, entered a shopping centre car park and crashed into another car before again taking off.

Gardaí attempted to place a stinger down to puncture the car tyres, but the gardaí trying to put it in place had to leap over a barrier out of the way of the boy when he sped towards them, the court heard.

The pursuit eventually ended when the boy abandoned the car in a cul-de-sac and tried to flee, before being arrested.

Three months later, the court heard an Audi car was stolen and was later spotted driving at speed down the wrong side of a national road. Another garda pursuit ensued, with the boy again observed to be driving the car. He had two passengers in the car with him.

The car drove at speeds of over 160km/h in an 80km/h speed zone and broke a red light, the court heard. Traffic was busy at the time and numerous vehicles had to take action to avoid a collision.

This pursuit also ended when the boy and his companions tried to flee on foot. An angle grinder and gloves were found by gardaí which the boy used to steal the Audi, the court heard.

Aidan McCarthy BL, defending, said his client’s parents were both in court to support their son. He said he comes from a loving, supportive family but had a number of educational issues and missed school for long periods of time when he was small.

The boy has socialisation and behavioural issues. He has a younger sibling with additional needs and his family have struggled with this in recent years, the court heard.

Defence counsel said the boy is maturing and is beginning to realise what could have happened as a result of his actions on the two occasions. He urged the judge to be as lenient as possible.