Teen defendant greets judge on Barrow walk
Photo for illustrative purposes only
A TEENAGER who stole a phone charger from an Athy shop and three bars of chocolate, had his case struck out by the judge, who shared a greeting he received from the defendant on a recent walk along the river.
“What happened to those bars of chocolate?” asked Judge Desmond Zaidan of the teen at an in Camera hearing.
“Oh, they’re long gone!” smiled the boy. "
Are you going to school?” the judge asked.
“Every day,” said the kid.
“He’s going to a special school, he has ADHD,” said his accompanying uncle, who was standing in for the boy’s father that day.
Sergeant Dave Hanrahan added: “He hasn’t come to garda attention since 2022 … and has no previous convictions”.
“That’s good news,” said the judge, before sharing a personal encounter with the defendant.
“I was walking down by the Barrow, and he comes along and greets me with a beaming smile. If only all 15-year-olds were like that,” he wished, before adding final advice.
“Get a skill in your life, because not everything your parents or grandparents do is right,” he said, before striking out the charges.
