Nuggets of easily-concealed ceramic are being used by thieves in Dublin to break into cars, a court was told yesterday.
Dublin Children's Court was told that this method was being employed by thieves in the south inner city.
The evidence emerged in the trial of a 14-year-old schoolboy charged with possession of a implement for use in connection with a theft on February 13th last.
Judge Catherine Murphy heard that a certain variety of ceramic was "unbelievably effective" when thrown against glass, which shatters instantly on contact.
The court heard the nuggets were easily concealed, and many thieves hid them in their mouth to avoid suspicion.
A fingernail-sized piece of ceramic, which the boy was spotted discarding, was handed into court as an exhibit, and a ballistic report outlining its capabilities as an implement for breaking into cars was also presented to the court.
Judge Murphy heard that the boy had been observed by a garda as he threw a small object out of his hand, which landed three feet away from him.
The object, which the prosecuting garda saw land on the ground, turned out to be a tiny piece of ceramic.
The boy had denied in evidence that he was ever in possession of the ceramic, and also said that he had no knowledge of its unlawful use.
Finding the boy guilty, Judge Murphy said that these objects cause enormous grief for many people.
However, she noted that the boy was excelling at school, and after reading glowing reports from his teachers said that it was obvious he was an ambitious and studious young man.
She also said that she had rarely seen such a good school report, and adjourned the case, with the teenager on bail, pending a probation report.
She further advised him never to engage in this type of behaviour again.