Solicitor seeks ‘urgency’ for Letterkenny teen charged with series of offence

The State has been urged to advance a case involving a Letterkenny teenager who is in detention over a series of incidents in August.

The juvenile, a teenage boy who cannot be named for legal reasons due to his age, appeared before Letterkenny District Court via video link from the Oberstown Children Detention Campus.

Sergeant Gerard Dalton told the court that directions are still outstanding from the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP). Sergeant Dalton said he was confident that progress would be made within two weeks.

“A file has been submitted and we have impressed the importance of the matter,” Sergeant Dalton told the court. “We are mindful that he is a juvenile and matters have to be progressed.”

Solicitor for the boy, Mr Rory O’Brien, said that the case was a ‘bit more nuanced and precarious’ as the teenager was approaching his 18th birthday.

“This man needs directions,” Mr O’Brien said. “He is in custody now for a considerable period. There is no reason this should be taking that long. It has to be dealt with due to his age and the benefits he should be afforded pursuant to the Children’s Act.”

Sergeant Dalton said that it was his information that the matter was ‘at the final stages’ as regards directions.

The boy is charged with inducing staff at the Radisson Blu Hotel, Paddy Harte Road, Letterkenny to accept as genuine a bank card belonging to another person with the intention of making gain for himself or another on August 11, 2023.

He is charged with unlawfully taking possession of a pedal cycle without the consent of the owner at Slieve Sneacht Road, Letterkenny on August 13.

The accused is charged with unlawfully using a mechanically propelled vehicle without the consent of the owner at Dry Arch Filling Station on August 18. On the same date, he is charged with making off without paying for €34 worth of diesel at the Dry Arch Filling Station.

He faces a further charge of unlawfully using a 125cc Keeway Motorcycle, a mechanically propelled vehicle without the consent of the owner at Cill an Oir Filling Station on August 21.

He is also charged with stealing an iPhone 11 Pro to the value of €375 from iTech on Port Road, Letterkenny, on August 23. On the same date he is charged with producing a knife during the course of a dispute at Letterkenny Retail Park, Paddy Harte Road, Letterkenny.

Judge Éiteáin Cunningham remanded the boy in detention to appear again via video link before the October 16 sitting of Letterkenny District Court.