This article is from page 12 of the 2008-09-09 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 12 JPG
A SPELL in a detention centre is frightening a 16-year-old Ennis boy, his solicitor has claimed.
The boy, who cannot be named be- cause of his age, had an eight-month sentence confirmed at Ennis Circuit Court in July, for breaking into a bed and breakfast and kicking two car wing mirrors in Ennis last Feb-
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He appeared before Ennis District Court last Friday, where he admitted a charge of burglary and also plead- ed guilty to public order offences.
Inspector John Galvin told the court that the boy created a nuisance of himself while gardai attended to the scene of a house fire in Clough- leigh, Ennis, on July 2 last.
‘He refused to leave the area. He
encouraged other youths to start chanting ‘“f*** off’ to the guards,’ he said.
Referring to the burglary offence, he said a shop was broken into and valuable items – including a camera, laptop and jewellery – were taken, on May 27 last.
“The accused admitted his role in the burglary,” said Inspector John GPT bane
Defending solicitor Tara Godfrey said the circuit court had confirmed the eight-month sentence, after not- ing the boy had failed to maintain contact with the probation services.
“It was very sad circumstances for me as a Solicitor to have my client having a district court sentence of eight months confirmed,’ said Ms Godfrey.
“Spending eight months in St
Patrick’s Institution is frightening him. He is very unhappy there. It’s a terrible place for him to be,’ she Sr HKOe
She asked the court not to add to the eight-month term the boy is serv- ing. Judge Leo Malone imposed a four-month term and said it was not more lengthy as the goods that had been taken from the shop were re- Oho Keren