Probation for Kildare juvenile who was caught with vice grips by gardaí

A male teenager from County Kildare who was caught with vice grips by gardaí has been given probation.

Previously, on October 26 last, gardaí told the court that the boy, along with another youth, attempted to break into the bike shed of a school.

Details about the other youth were not specified during this court session.

Shortly afterwards, the defendant was stopped while at the scene by gardaí, and when he was asked what he was doing, he replied that he was simply 'hanging around.'

It was also heard that he eventually handed over a pair of vice grips to gardaí.

On the latest court date (Thursday, January 5 last), the boy attended court alongside his mother, and submitted a guilty plea to the offence.

It was also heard that the teenager is now in employment.

After hearing details of the case, Judge Zaidan told the teenager, who is due to turn 18 sometime this year: "I am going to give you a chance to start your adult life without a conviction.”

"This is the chance of a lifetime, so take it," the judge said: "Behaving like this is not the way forward."

He applied the Probation Act, but also warned the boy: "If you are hanging around the wrong crowd, make new friends."

The teenager and his mother both thanked the judge for his verdict.