Boy drank and took drugs before burning down family home

A teenage boy who took a cocktail of drink and drugs before he burned down his family home is to be sentenced in April.

A teenage boy who took a cocktail of drink and drugs before he burned down his family home is to be sentenced in April.

The boy, who is in his mid- teens, had a row with his family and had consumed alcohol and tranquillisers before he started the fire.

It got out of control and caused €100,000 worth of damage.

He pleaded guilty at Dublin Children’s Court to criminally damaging the property, which was gutted last year.

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He had also been accused of attacking his mother on the same date. However, she withdrew her complaint and the charge has been dropped.

Yesterday, Judge Ann Ryan noted that a positive probation report on the youth had been furnished to the court and efforts were being made to help him find a job.

She deferred sentencing him for eight weeks to let him get continued assistance from the Probation Service.

The teenager, who was accompanied to court by his father and a youth worker, was remanded on continuing bail.

The boy no longer lives with his family and is currently living in a children’s home.