A 15-year-old boy who absconded 52 times while on bail was sentenced to two years' detention in his absence yesterday.
The boy, who cannot be named, was convicted of six charges including interfering with a car, criminal damage, attempted theft and possession of an implement which could be used in a crime.
Judge Desmond Windle imposed the sentence on charges which had been heard previously and adjourned until yesterday.
The accused failed to turn up in the Children's Court yesterday. A total of 23 gardai have brought 49 charges against him, excluding the six dealt with yesterday, for crimes allegedly committed in the last 18 months throughout Dublin. Garda Caroline Moloney told Judge Windle there was now a place available in Oberstown Boys Centre. Judge Windle imposed the maximum permissible sentence in the District Court.