A nine-year-old boy arrested in connection with a mugging appeared in court yesterday, making him the youngest child to face a criminal prosecution in Ireland in recent years.
The boy was barely visible as he sat in the defendant's bench and remained silent throughout the proceedings during which Judge William Early said intervention from the Health Service Executive was necessary.
The boy was charged with the robbery of a mobile phone and an MP3 player from two teenagers at the bus terminus at Belgard Square, Tallaght, on January 29th.
He was arrested at Belgard Walk, near where the alleged offence took place and several miles from his home, at 11.40pm on February 18th.
He was taken to Tallaght Garda station where he was charged, after which he made no reply, said Garda Michelle McGuinness.
The boy, who lives on a halting site, was accompanied to court by his father. Judge Early granted free legal aid and assigned solicitor Margaret MacEvilly to represent the boy.
When Judge Early queried the boy's age, he was told that he was nine.
However, the boy's father "was unclear as to his son's exact date of birth".
Ms MacEvilly was told the family would bring the boy's birth certificate on his next court appearance.
Garda McGuinness applied for the case to be adjourned. Ms MacEvilly said she would need time to take instructions.
Judge Early said: "If the child is so unruly and at risk, there seems there is a serious risk to his welfare, health and safety. Section 16 of the Childcare Act 1991 requires that the Health Service Executive intervene."
He then remanded the boy on bail to appear again in April pending the DPP's directions, and ordered that a copy of the State's evidence against the boy be furnished to the defence.
He said to the boy's father: "There is a heavy obligation on you to take care of your son."
The father put the blame on another boy, telling the judge: "He told this woman [ the garda] that it was a 15-year-old who did it and not him. They should not be questioning a child of nine and banging him up in a cell."