A TEENAGER has been spared a custodial sentence for travelling in a stolen car which crashed into a Garda Special Branch vehicle escorting former taoiseach Brian Cowen last November.
Two detectives, who were not injured in the collision in Dublin, were following Mr Cowen’s official car as he was being driven home from a late cabinet meeting on the night of November 18th.
The boy, aged 16, had pleaded guilty earlier at the Dublin Children’s Court to travelling as a passenger in a stolen vehicle.
Judge John O’Neill noted yesterday that a pre-sentence report on the boy had recommended placing the boy, who has no criminal convictions, on supervised probation.
“He is making an effort definitely,” said Judge O’Neill as he agreed to make the order and sentenced the boy to a three-month probation bond.
He warned the boy, who was accompanied to his case by his older brother, that he must comply with five conditions set down in the probation report.
Earlier, Garda Cathal McNamara had told the court that a car had been stolen and collided with the Garda vehicle at St John’s Road West in Dublin.
The stolen car was abandoned 15 minutes later following a pursuit and “a number of incidents of dangerous driving”.
At the time of the incident, the boy “had a lot of drink taken”.
The court had heard that the teenager had not come to further Garda attention and that he has been taking part in a training course.
The defence had told the court that the boy had been influenced by older people and had been very drunk on the night of the crash.
A 17-year-old from west Dublin, who denies being the driver of the car, is awaiting trial.