Judge jails teenage burglar as ‘a last resort’ to protect society

A Dublin teenager who burgled his neighbour and robbed two taxi drivers has been jailed as “a last resort” after a judge ruled society needed to be protected.

"He has little or no regard for other people's lives. He cannot avoid a custodial sentence. It seems he is going to have to learn the hard way. If he doesn't learn, he going to live a hard and tortured life," Judge Martin Nolan said after he sentenced the 17-year-old to three years detention with the final two years suspended.

“Society cannot allow people like you to burgle and rob people. You are going to have a chance to reflect,” Judge Nolan told the teenager.

He said the law states that custody is “a last resort for a child” and that the purpose of sentencing is “to protect the community” but also to rehabilitate the offender, “particularly one as young as he”.

He noted that a probation report concluded that he has difficulties and the Probation Service has doubts as to whether he can stop himself committing crime.

The teenager, who cannot be named for legal reasons, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to burglary on November 10th, 2013.

He also pleaded guilty to robbery of Frank Locke and Gerard Watkins on February 2nd, 2014. Two charges of seizing each of their vehicles, a Skoda Octavia and a Nissan Primera, by force was taken into account.

The teenager was on bail when he carried out the robberies and has a conviction for theft and one for allowing himself to be carried in a stolen car.

On his arrest gardaí ­ found cash, a yellow torch, a silver watch and a knuckle duster on him.

The court heard he was tackled when he met the homeowner and his son on the landing of their home. He fell down the stairs and the two men held him there until gardaí ­ arrived.

Three months later he robbed two taxi drivers along with another person. Both men were threatened.

Aoife McNickle BL, defending, told Judge Nolan that her client’s parents, who have never been involved in criminality, are embarrassed and ashamed by their son’s actions.

Garda David Cronin told Sinéad McMullan BL, prosecuting that Mr Locke had €130 robbed from him after the teenager and another man flagged him down at 3.30am. He was told his throat would be cut and was ordered to get into the boot of his car but he ran away.

A short time later the pair got into Mr Watkins’s taxi at a rank near Liffey Valley Shopping Centre. The teenager later tried to pull Mr Watkins out of the car by his throat while the second man told him he had a knife.

“Your money or your life,” the teenager told the driver before the pair stole €100 and took his car.

Garda Patrick Morrissey said when the teenager was interviewed following the burglary, he denied ever being in the house even though he was still there when gardaí ­ arrived on the scene.

He claimed it was a case of “mistaken identity” and told officers: “I was walking home and you just lifted me.”

A set of BMW keys belonging to the homeowner’s daughter were found in his jacket.

Judge Nolan said it was a serious matter when someone as young as the teenager comes before the court.

He said “the peace of mind” of the boy’s neighbours had been affected after they found him in their home.

Judge Nolan said the taxi drivers, whom he described as “unfortunate men”, were entitled to do their job without being attacked.