*Church St in Scariff.
EXTERN have been appointed to monitor an Ennis teenager while he is on bail for a spate of car thefts in Scariff and Gort.
A judge has told a 14 year old Ennis boy charged in connection with a spate of car thefts “please don’t say ‘Grand Theft Auto’” after asking the boy what are his favourite games to play on Playstation.
At the Ennis District Children’s Court, Judge Alec Gabbett made his ‘Grand Theft Auto’ comment after the boy told him that he enjoys playing games on his Playstation.
The boy replied that another Playstation game was his favourite and not Grand Theft Auto.
In the case, the boy currently on bail appeared in court in connection with a spate of alleged car thefts in East Clare and south Galway earlier this month.
The boy is charged with the unlawful taking possession of three cars and attempting to get into a fourth from Gort in south Galway and Scarriff in east Clare on February 4th.
The schoolboy is also charged with two burglaries and the criminal damage of one of the cars he is alleged to have unlawfully taken.
When Judge Gabbett asked the boy at a previous court hearing this month why he was in court the teenager replied “stealing cars”.
At the previous court appearance, the boy said that he had not returned to school as he did not have runners after the Gardaí took them from him as part of their investigation.
Now, Judge Gabbett asked the boy, “Do we have the runners sorted out? Did you get a new pair – you did go to school”.
The boy said that he has returned to school and showed the judge the new runners.
Judge Gabbett has appointed Extern, a service which assists young people before the courts to help monitor the boy while on bail.
The boy is living elsewhere in Clare currently and Judge Gabbett said that Gardaí and TUSLA would need to be canvassed about the boy returning to live in Ennis.
Judge Gabbett said that he would have no objection in principle to the boy returning to Ennis.
In the case, the 14-year old is charged with the unlawful taking possession of 231 G, 06 G and 141 LS registered vehicles from Gallaghers Lane, Glenbrack, Gort, Co Galway; from Keehan Cleaners, Ennis Rd, Gort, Co Galway and from Church Street, Scarriff without the consent of their owners on Wednesday, February 4th.
The alleged offences are contrary to Section 112 of the Road Traffic Act, 1961.
The boy is also charged with attempting to get into another vehicle at Cloonahaha, Gort on February 4th.
The young teenager is also charged with burglary from Keehan Cleaners, Ennis Rd, Gort Galway and at a property at Church Street, Scariff and the criminal damage of a 141 LS registered vehicle from Church Street, Scariff on February 4th.
Judge Gabbett further remanded the teenager on bail to appear before court on April 15th.
As part of the bail conditions the boy must observe a 8pm to 8am Garda policed curfew, stay out of Galway and Scariff, not travel in a vehicle unless accompanying by his parents or grandparents and sign on at Ennis Garda Station on Monday, Wednesday and Saturday
