Kildare court: Probation bond for teenage boy involved in altercation with supermarket manager

Probation supervision was ordered for a teenage boy involved in an altercation with a supermarket manager.

The boy appeared at Naas District Court on Thursday, February 8 last, where he was accompanied by his father.

He was being prosecuted for an altercation with a manager, at a supermarket which he was previously barred from entering.

It was heard that the boy is still in school, and has no previous convictions.

A probation report was handed in to the judge by the boy's defending barrister, Mark Gibbons.

Speaking directly to the boy, Judge Zaidan said: "You need to act your age.

"There is a difference between being a mischievious boy and a boy who engages in criminal behaviour... you need to draw the line."

He continued: "If you have been barred from this shop, just don't go there. There are plenty of other shops around.

"Even if you disagree with the shop's decision, just respect it."

"Control your temper," the judge added.

When Judge Zaidan asked the boy's father if he was behaving himself at home, the father replied: "He is doing his best to, sir."

The judge pointed to the boy's lack of previous convictions, and said that he would 'give him a chance'.

"I want you to start your adult life without a criminal conviction," Judge Zaidan told the boy: "If I didn't care, I wouldn't be talking to you about this right now."

He also said: "You are better than how you acted on the day of the offence."

The judge decided to place the boy on a probation bond for 12 months.

He also warned the boy to stay away from drugs and from abusing alcohol.