A drug addict who was forced to leave the family home because of vigilantes received a year's detention yesterday. David Stafford (18), of St Fintan's Road, Cabra, Dublin, pleaded guilty at Dublin District Court to stealing three car stereos and being a passenger in a stolen car between December and February last.
Mr John Feaheny, defending, said Stafford had been forced to leave the family home last February because of local vigilantes but had since got off drugs and obtained a job.
Det Garda Noel Owen told the court Stafford was in a stolen car which crashed during a chase near the airport on December 22nd. Earlier that day, he had stolen a car stereo at Shandon Mills, Phibsboro, and on other dates had stolen stereos worth up to £700 at Avondale Road, Cabra, and Griffith Avenue, Glasnevin. None of the property was recovered.