Teen spared sentence on condition he completes Leaving Cert

A Dublin youth who charged at a garda while armed with a golf club and a hammer has been spared a custodial sentence on condition he completes the Leaving Certificate.

Det Garda Jason Weir told Judge John O’Connor at the Dublin Children’s Court that on October 25th last year a report was received when “a number of youths entered Cashel Road in Crumlin with golf clubs and hammers”.

He observed the then 17-year-old boy “run towards me with a golf club in one hand and a hammer in the other”. The youth was arrested and pleaded guilty on Wednesday to brandishing the weapons.

The defence asked the court to note the offence occurred almost a year ago, the youth had no prior convictions and was still in education with hopes of completing the Leaving Certificate.

A separate charge of heroin dealing after he was allegedly caught engaged in a transaction worth €50 in July this year is being contested and a December hearing date was set.

Judge O’Connor was furnished with a probation report which recommended continued supervision of the youth, now aged 18, for the weapons charges.

He imposed a six-month probation bond but made it conditional on the teenager not re-offending in next six months and also completing the Leaving Certificate.

The youth was also warned he has to continue going to meetings with his probation officer. Breaching the order can result in the case being brought back to court for a tougher sanction, including a custodial sentence, to be considered.