A Dublin youth is to face a Circuit Court trial over a traumatising burglary in which a gang allegedly threatened to chop off a woman’s fingers in front of her young son.
Refusing jurisdiction, Judge John O’Connor held that the case was too serious to be dealt with at the Dublin Children’s Court.
The 16-year-old boy, who was accompanied to the pre-trial hearing by family members, was further remanded in custody.
The DPP must prepare a book of evidence before the boy can be sent forward for trial to the circuit court which can impose lengthier sentences.
Judge O’Connor heard it was alleged the 16-year-old boy was among a group of raiders who also threatened to cut off the woman’s 10-year-old son’s fingers before making off with €30,000 and a high-powered car.
The 16-year-old, who cannot be named because he is a minor, faces charges of motor theft and aggravated burglary at a house in Citywest in Dublin on the morning of November 11th last. He has been refused bail and is the second juvenile before the courts in connection with the aggravated burglary.
Garda Conor Fleming said the alleged incident left the victims traumatised.
He has told Judge O’Connor that at about 7.50am the woman answered a knock at her front door and there were people in her garden. The door was “forced in on top of her” and five males came into her home.
Two or three of them “dragged her to the kitchen and tried to tie her hands with cable ties, screaming for money”. Garda Fleming said it was alleged they took a meat cleaver and a steak-knife from the kitchen. One put the knife to her collar bone and threatened to kill her.
Her young son was brought from his bedroom to the kitchen as the woman had her hands placed on a counter and they threatened to “cut off her fingers”.
“They said they would cut her son’s fingers off and if they did not get any money they would take her son away with them,” Garda Fleming has said.
Garda Fleming said it is claimed the teenager had admitted he had over-powered the woman and knew she was being held against her will. Garda Fleming has also alleged the youth admitted he drove off in her car.
The judge previously ruled that a co-accused, another boy aged 16, should be tried in the Circuit Court. That teen has also been refused bail and remains in custody while the State prepare their case against him.
A third person, aged 18, is awaiting trial in connection with the incident.