A 16-year-old Dublin boy who wanted to be locked up so he could do the Leaving Certificate was detained by a judge for 16 months yesterday.
The teenager had been given a suspended six-month sentence at the Dublin Children’s Court last November on a charge of handling a stolen mobile phone.
Judge Aingeal Ní Chondúin heard at the city’s juvenile court yesterday that he had continued to commit petty thefts, a breach of the peace and had been caught carrying a bolt cutters for use in a theft.
The youth has five convictions for theft, public order offences and criminal damage. Defence solicitor Brendan Aherne said the boy wanted his case to be finalised. “He intends to do the Leaving Certificate and is looking to have a sentence imposed to enable him to do that.”
The teenager, on being told the suspended six-month sentence was being activated, told the court he needed a longer period in custody. The judge then imposed a consecutive 10-month term for his other offences, meaning he will be held for 16 months.
“I hope you do well,” she told him. He then hugged his mother in the courtroom.