An 18-year-old, who took part in an attempted car theft when the owner was murdered by another young man, was yesterday given a suspended sentence at the Dublin Children's Court.
The defendant, aged 17 at the time, was convicted of attempting to steal the car in Ballyfermot on November 26th, 2003. He was before the Children's Court yesterday for sentencing on this charge as well as other motoring offences and one public order violation, some 36 charges in total.
Evidence had been given at a previous hearing that he got into the car and had been tampering with its locking mechanism. The owner came out on to his driveway and the person with the youth stabbed him.
At the Central Criminal Court last week the other young man, now 21-year-old Darren Rogers, Ballyfermot, was given a life sentence when convicted of murdering Mr Thomas Farrell.
At the Children's Court yesterday, the 18-year-old was given a two-month suspended sentence for attempted car theft, and six-month suspended sentences in relation to driving without insurance and use of stolen vehicles.