Dublin boy’s cannabis case adjourned for social-work report

This report is a localnews.ie summary based on public court reporting and records; sources are listed below.

A Dublin boy, who was 15 when gardaí stopped him with a bag containing cannabis, had his case adjourned at Dublin Children’s Court. The proceedings were reported on 20 February 2019. He was then aged 16 and cannot be named because he is a minor.

He was charged with possessing cannabis resin for sale or supply at a north inner-city Dublin flat complex on 12 October 2017. He was also charged under Section 15A of the Misuse of Drugs Act with having drugs worth more than €13,000. He made no reply when charged and had not indicated how he would plead.

Garda Sergeant Tom Powell told Judge Brendan Toale that a surveillance operation had been conducted. The report said the boy was seen cycling and looking around vigorously. Gardaí found two kilos of cannabis, valued at €40,000, in his bag. He had told them it contained gym gear and that he had just come from the gym. In an interview, he said he had been told to bring it to the block of flats and place it in a bush.

Defence solicitor Aonghus McCarthy said the value of the drugs was the aggravating feature, but the boy could not be deemed the head of a sophisticated criminal enterprise. He argued that the boy’s age and maturity were compelling reasons for the Children’s Court to accept jurisdiction. The Director of Public Prosecutions had recommended trial in the Circuit Court.

Judge Toale adjourned the case until a date in March for a report or for the appointed social worker to attend court. The boy was remanded on continuing bail.

This report covers an earlier stage of the case. Later developments are not reported here.