14-year-old boy convicted under Firearms and Offensive Weapons Act
Carlow courthouse Pic: Michael O'Rourke
A 14-YEAR-OLD BOY was convicted under the after he was found in possession of a screwdriver and gardening gloves, Carlow District Court heard recently.
Garda Phelan told the court he was searching for two male youths in connection with an alleged theft at a nearby Aldi on 29 May 2024. On Little Barrack Street, Carlow he observed a male youth matching the description of one of the suspects from CCTV footage.
“He took off, I chased him, searched him and found he was in possession of a screwdriver,” said Garda Phelan.
The youth was also carrying two sets of gardening gloves.
When questioned about the screwdriver, the teenager claimed it was for fixing his bike. However, Garda Phelan noted there was no bicycle with him or in the vicinity. A subsequent patrol of the area failed to locate any bike.
The defendant’s solicitor clarified in court that while her client was identified from CCTV footage, there was no suggestion the screwdriver was used in the theft. Both the garda and the defendant confirmed the search was consensual.
Garda Doyle testified that Garda Phelan had arrived at Carlow Garda Station with the youth in custody that evening. The teenager was charged under section 9 of the , and a risk assessment was conducted with extra care, given his age. The court heard the youth initially refused to provide an address but eventually contacted his father, who came to collect him after initially refusing.
The solicitor noted her client was placed in a cell, although gardaí explained this was because the custody room was occupied. She also pointed out she had not been given access to the CCTV footage of the alleged theft.
Taking the stand, the 14-year-old claimed: “I was just at the bus stop (at Carlow Bus Station) and he (Garda Phelan) came out of nowhere and arrested me.”
The boy claimed his bike was behind the bus park and that “the garda that arrested me was very aggressive towards me”.
The teenager told the court he had purchased both the gardening gloves and screwdriver at Mr Price earlier that day, adding that the bike belonged to his friend, as did the gloves, which he was “holding on to”.
He proceeded to explain how the screwdriver could be used to repair a faulty bike chain.
Judge Geraldine Carthy, having heard all evidence, deemed the youth’s explanation for possessing the screwdriver was “simply and utterly not plausible” and convicted him.
The judge ordered a probation report for the youth, who has no previous convictions, to be completed by 1 May, at which point she will also hear full mitigation from his solicitor.
