Three Dublin teenagers have been charged with the murder of schoolboy Alan Higgins, who died after he was allegedly attacked and robbed last October.
Bail was refused and the three were held in custody after the Dublin Children's Court heard that the youths, all aged 16, were no longer accused of the schoolboy's manslaughter, but of his murder instead.
Judge John O'Neill heard that the three, who cannot be named for legal reasons, had been further charged with murdering Mr Higgins at the UCI cinema complex, on the Malahide Road, Coolock, on the night of October 12th last.
They were already charged with robbery of a mobile phone and a wallet of unknown value from Alan Higgins, on the same date.
New charges for assaults and robberies against other persons on the same date and in the same location were also put to them, Judge O'Neill was also told yesterday.
Det Garda Kevin Fields, Coolock Station, told the court that he arrested teenager A, who was 15 at the time of the incident, yesterday morning and charged him with murder. When cautioned, after the charge was put to him, the teenager made "no reply." He was also charged with separate assault and robbery offences against other persons on the same day, in Coolock, the court heard. On these offences he is accused of robbery of a wallet and the attempted robbery of a backpack containing cans of lager and a mini-disc.
A manslaughter charge previously put to him arising out of the incident was withdrawn yesterday after the court heard that the youth is now accused of murder.
Judge O'Neill was also told that teenager A had also been arrested for drunk and disorderly offences recently. Garda Sean Maxwell said that he arrested him under Section 4 and 6 of the Public Order Act for being intoxicated to such an extent that he was a danger to himself and others and for engaging in threatening, abusive and insulting behaviour on March 9th.
Garda Maxwell told the court that the boy was intoxicated in a public place and became abusive to gardaí before he was arrested.
Judge O'Neill remanded the youth in custody to St Patrick's Institution for one week pending the service of a book of evidence.
Teenager B, also aged 16, was arrested yesterday and further charged with murdering Alan Higgins on October 12th last. He was also charged with assault and robbery of other persons on the same day in Coolock.
A manslaughter charge previously put to him was withdrawn by the State and Judge O'Neill remanded him in custody in St Patrick's Institution until March 27th next.
A manslaughter charge was withdrawn in the case of teenager C (16) who was further charged yesterday with murdering Alan Higgins.
He also faces charges for assault causing harm and robbery of another person on the same date in Coolock and was held in custody in St Patrick's Institution for one week.