Limerick boy, 15, jailed 24 months for nine offences after drug use from age 10

A 15-year-old from Limerick has been sentenced to 24 months' detention for nine offences including car theft. He began using drugs and alcohol at age 10.

Limerick Circuit Court sentences teenager with 32 prior convictions

Google News IE — Crime (en) reports that a 15-year-old boy from the southside of Limerick city has been sentenced to 24 months' detention after pleading guilty to nine charges, including being carried in stolen vehicles, stealing cars, interfering with a car, criminal damage, theft, and stealing a motorbike.

Judge Colin Daly, sitting at Limerick Circuit Court, heard that the teenager first began using drugs and alcohol at the age of 10 and was under the influence of substances when he committed some of the offences. He committed his first recorded offence at the age of 12 and has since accumulated 32 previous convictions for matters including road traffic offences and theft.

The boy is currently held at Oberstown, a children's detention campus, where he is already serving separate sentences for other matters.

His barrister, Yvonne Quinn, told the court that Tusla has been involved with the teenager since early childhood due to a "difficult" upbringing. He was previously placed in foster care and has difficulties with reading and writing. Quinn described his current trajectory at Oberstown as positive, adding that this is "not the life that he wants."

The court was informed that the teenager has a "very positive" relationship with his mother and has expressed a wish to engage with education following his release. Supports will be put in place upon his discharge.

In a letter submitted to the court, the 15-year-old stated that he recognises changes must be made and wished to apologise for his actions. He has nonetheless been assessed as 'high-risk' for re-offending.

Imposing sentence, Judge Daly noted that the theft of the vehicles caused "great inconvenience" to their owners, who would have been left to cover any damage costs. All vehicles were subsequently retrieved following the offences.

In mitigation, Judge Daly took into account the boy's "difficult start in life," his young age, his progress in custody, his guilty pleas, and his stated intention to remain drug-free.

For each charge of taking and interfering with a vehicle, the teenager received a 24-month detention and supervision order. Eight-month terms were imposed for each of the theft and criminal damage charges. All sentences will run concurrently with the sentence currently being served, placing the teenager's expected release date in March 2027.

Judge Daly also directed that the boy engage with probation services for 12 months following his release and wished him "the very best of luck" going forward.

Source: Google News IE — Crime (en)