A teenager, with an address in Tallaght, is accused of aggravated burglary of a house in Tallaght on 23rd October 2010. The 17-year old is also accused of damaging all the front windows of the house and a locker on the above date. Judge Victor Blake in Tallaght Court refused jurisdiction in the case.
The case was before Judge Blake to hear submissions on whether the case should be kept in the District Court. A solicitor for the DPP said that the DPP had directed trial on indictment, given the seriousness of the offence.
Judge Blake asked Garda Simon Butler what was alleged to have happened on the night in question. Garda Butler said it was alleged that at 3am, the teenager and his uncle knocked on the door of the injured party’s homes. When no one answered, the pair kicked the door down and the teenager went into the injured party’s bedroom and threatened him with an axe. Sergeant Jones added that the pair allegedly smashed a corner unit in the house as well as a number of windows. The teenager’s solicitor, Mr. Eddie O’Connor clarified that the co-accused was not the accused’s uncle, but his cousin.
When asked if he knew if there was a history of intimidation in relation to the case, Garda Butler said he only became aware of it after the incident.
Mr. O’Connor asked Judge Blake to keep the case in the District Court but Judge Blake refused jurisdiction. The teenager was remanded on continuing bail to a date in September for service of the book of evidence.