Children forced to 'dive' away from teen speeding car along footpaths, court told
Tom Tuite
Young children and a parent pushing a pram had to “dive” away from a teenager speeding a stolen car along footpaths and storefronts at Blanchardstown Shopping Centre in Dublin, a court heard.
The boy, then aged 15, has been charged with two counts of endangering lives in a pedestrian area at the retail park on the afternoon of January 22nd, 2023.
It happened after the Toyota Aqua was tracked by an unmarked patrol car and the Garda Air Support Unit.
The youth, now aged 17, appeared at the Dublin Children’s Court, where Judge Paul Kelly held the case was too serious to retain jurisdiction, meaning it would go forward to the Circuit Court, which has tougher sentencing powers.
Garda Ian McElroy told the court the Toyota Aqua had been stolen in Tipperary earlier that day and was weaving in and out of traffic at high speed on the M50 before the car headed to Blanchardstown.
The car broke red lights, reached the shopping centre and drove onto a pedestrian area where gardai had to call off their pursuit.
Video evidence from shopfront security cameras and the Garda helicopter was played during the preliminary hearing.
It showed that the area was busy as the teen sped along shop fronts, and children were going in and out of the Smyths Toys store, Woodie’s and Mr Price.
The teen cannot be named because he is still a minor.
Garda McElroy said there was heavy pedestrian traffic, including elderly people, parents and a person pushing a pram. The court heard they were “forced to dive out of the way to avoid being struck”.
The car came to bollards, and the boy, who had a male passenger, fled. He was arrested later that day in a local housing estate.
Defence solicitor Sandra Frayne said her client has been in custody and away from his family on other matters since October 2023.
But he will be released in three months on supervised probation for another year and a half.
A probation report outlined how the boy had severe behavioural and psychological problems and was diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.
He is doing the Junior Certificate and wants to go on to complete the Leaving Certificate. The solicitor asked the judge to note his age when the incident occurred and that he was pleading guilty.
The prosecution argued that the boy showed “no consideration” for people of all ages in the area.
Judge Kelly held the case was too serious to keep in the Children’s Court and refused jurisdiction. The boy will appear again next month when the judge will grant an order to transfer the case to the Circuit Court.
