A THEN 13-year-old boy who sold three deals of heroin to undercover gardaí has been remanded on continuing bail pending sentence.
The boy, now aged 14, pleaded guilty at the Children’s Court in December to having heroin for sale or supply on a street in west Dublin on two successive dates last spring. He was then remanded on bail until yesterday to allow time for a pre-sentence welfare report.
Defence solicitor Gareth Noble told Judge William Hamill the Probation Service, which has been supervising the boy, was seeking further time “for various things to be done”.
Judge Hamill adjourned sentencing until March. He also agreed to request an up-dated report on the boy’s progress from the Probation Service.
Garda Josephine Dowling had told the court the boy sold three quantities of heroin, two with street values of €20 and one worth €25, to undercover gardaí. An older individual was with the boy at the time.
Mr Noble has said the boy had previously been the subject of High Court proceedings and was attending psychiatric treatment.
The boy had been diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder at the age of seven. He was also found to have a conduct disorder, and in 2006 he had been appointed a social worker.
The boy, who has no prior convictions, had gone through a period where there were family problems. While there were also other charges pending against him, they were not drug-related.