This article is from page 6 of the 2006-03-07 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 6 JPG
A 15-YEAR-OLD boy who bought a knife in a shop in Ennis and then attempted to rob a shop in Cloughleigh has been handed a three-year detention sentence.
The youth, who is now 17 and who cannot be named because of his age, admitted a charge of attempted robbery, on November 3, 2004.
Sgt Frank Naughton said a woman was working in the premises, a small supermarket, on the date in question.
Two people, the accused and another man in his 20s, wearing balaclavas and carrying what she thought were knives or screwdrivers, entered the shop.
He said the other man – who was not before the court – ordered her to hand over money.
Sgt Naughton said the woman, who had the “daylight” frightened out of her, got a stick and threw it at the man in his 20s.
She activated the alarm and both the accused and the other man ran out.
The two men were seen hiding in the bushes near the shop and gardaí were notified. A knife and balaclava were recovered from the hedge nearby.
Sgt Naughton said the accused told gardai he had bought a knife in Mary’s of Ennis.
The accused said they both ran into the shop. The other man ran in around the counter and demanded money. Sgt Naughton said nothing was taken in the incident.
Defence barrister Pat Whyms said his client was led by the other man.
Judge Carroll Moran said he took on board that the accused was not the main participant, but that the incident was “a serious matter” in a local shop in a local community.
He noted that the case was not returned for trial until over a year after the offence.
“I do point out that there has been considerable delay in this case. It may be for good reason,” he said.
He imposed a three-year detention sentence on the youth and backdated it to January 2005, giving him the benefit of time spent in custody.
The boy is currently serving a two-year sentence for a separate offence.