Teenager to stand trial after M50 pursuit of stolen car

Résumé détaillé

A 15-year-old boy is to stand trial over a high-speed traffic pursuit on the M50 in Dublin, during which a stolen hot-wired car collided twice with a garda patrol vehicle.

A 15-year-old boy is to stand trial over a high-speed traffic pursuit on the M50 in Dublin, during which a stolen hot-wired car collided twice with a garda patrol vehicle.

He appeared at Dublin Children's Court today, facing charges of criminal damage, driving a stolen car, and dangerous driving in connection with the incident in the early hours of 11 June.

Judge Karen Dowling noted the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) recommended the case be sent to the Circuit Court with wider sentencing powers.

The boy, accompanied in court by his parents, attended a preliminary hearing to determine his trial venue.

Garda Mark Faul outlined the alleged facts, telling the court a 2013-registered Mazda Demio had been stolen from a residence in Co Carlow four days before the incident.

Garda Faul said that at 3.30am, the car was tracked travelling southbound on the M50. It approached Junction 12, exiting via the slip road before turning right over the bridge to rejoin the motorway northbound.

A garda patrol car attempted to position itself in front of the Mazda to prevent it from re-entering the M50. At that point the stolen car was driven into the rear bumper of the patrol vehicle.

Garda Faul testified that the Mazda then proceeded down the northbound slip road and stopped at the bottom as though preparing to turn right, the wrong way. The driver "slammed on the brakes", causing the patrol car to strike it from behind, the court heard.

Under cross-examination, Garda Faul agreed with defence counsel Orla Doolin BL that the financial damage was in the hundreds of euros rather than thousands, and confirmed the boy had no prior convictions at the time.

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