Alleged teen burglar threatened with detention after no-show at Kildare court
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A teenager charged with burgling a primary care centre in Athy had a ninth bench warrant issued for him after he failed to turn up in court – again.
“Judge, he’s not here, and I don’t have a reason,” defending solicitor Noel Leech from Jackie McManus’s office said at last week's sitting of Athy District Court.
“You’ve done your best, but to no avail?” asked Judge Desmond Zadian.
“Yes, judge,” said Mr Leech.
At this point, the prosecuting officer Sergeant Dave Hanrahan reminded Judge Zaidan that “(named boy) has taken eight bench warrants on this”.
“That’s not good enough,” said the judge.
“He has a habit of turning up late,” pleaded Mr Leech.
“Eight bench warrants? The next time the gardaí will object to bail,” Judge Zaidan warned Mr Leech, before he issued the ninth bench warrant, leaving the very possibility of a 15-year-old being held behind bars before being found guilty.
A co-defendant charged with the same offence was also a no-show, and thus had a bench warrant issued for his arrest as well.
The two youths – respectively 15 and 17 – were due to appear in Athy District Court to face the allegations stemming from a break-in at the Tusla Primary Care Centre on the Dublin Road in Athy on 13 January last.
