A teenage boy facing a robbery charge was yesterday released on bail with strict conditions and told he cannot accompany his pregnant 15-year-old girlfriend to England, where she is planning to have an abortion.
The Children's Court also heard that the 16-year-old boy's anti-social behaviour in his west Dublin neighbourhood was putting his family at risk of eviction from their council home.
His upset mother told the court she was prepared to stand bail for her son on condition that he stopped drinking and taking drugs as well as ceased his troublemaking in her area. This, she added, has resulted in a final warning from the council that she would be evicted.
"I'll take him if he does what he's told and stays away from drink and drugs. I've got two letters from the council and I got a final warning. He was told to stop hanging around the corner drinking and taking drugs, he would not stop causing trouble. I will be out on the streets," she told Judge Thomas Fitzpatrick.
She said her son had started loitering in a woman's garden where he and friends drank and took drugs. This woman had filed complaints with South Dublin County Council, which had led to the threat of eviction, she explained.
The prosecuting garda said there was an objection to bail based on concerns the teenager had indicated he was planning to travel to England if released.
The boy said his girlfriend was going to have an abortion there and that he had planned on travelling with her.
The boy then said: "He [the garda\] asked me was I going to England, but I can't go now. I'll be in court on the next date." He added that his girlfriend could be accompanied by one of her relatives. When asked what her age was, the boy said 15.
"It does not sound good," Judge Fitzpatrick said. He consented to bail under strict terms, warning the teenager that if there were any breaches he would be remanded in custody.
"You are not to go to England. Indeed, your girlfriend should not be going to England either," he said.