A teenage boy accused of leading gardai on a high-speed traffic pursuit in Dublin before colliding with another car has been given a week to decide his plea.
The teen, 16, a minor who cannot be identified, was charged with motor theft and six counts of dangerous driving in connection with the incident on the night of April 25 in 2022.
Garda Patrick Marron told the Dublin Children’s Court that the incident happened shortly before 11 pm while he patrolled the Coolock area. His station command and control office alerted him about a Toyota Vitz travelling along M1 in north Dublin.
He said the stolen Toyota broke a red light and moved onto the R139 while "travelling at approximately 140 kph in a 60 kph zone".
It was alleged the boy, then aged 15, drove in the middle of the road and while breaking another red light "caused other vehicles to take evasive action".
At the preliminary hearing to decide the boy’s trial venue, the court was told he allegedly continued heading south on the northbound lane.
The car proceeded to Darndale and went over a green before forcing gardai to take evasive action to avoid a collision. The court heard the driver "sped" onto Marigold Avenue while pursued by gardai keeping a safe distance.
The court heard the Toyota hit a BMW and the teen fled from the car but was arrested in a nearby garden.
No one was injured in the car chase which lasted 13 minutes.
Three other people were in the car which had been stolen in the Balbriggan area earlier that night.
Jurisdiction for the case to remain in the Children’s Court was accepted due to his age. The defence said the teen was on medication for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder and had previously been "with a wrong crowd".
Today, Judge Paul Kelly granted the defence an adjournment to take instructions from the boy who has not yet indicated a plea.
He was remanded on continuing bail.
