A teenage boy who took a cocktail of drink and drugs before he burned down his family home is to be sentenced in April.
The boy, who is in his mid- teens, had a row with his family and had consumed alcohol and tranquillisers before he started the fire.
It got out of control and caused €100,000 worth of damage.
He pleaded guilty at Dublin Children’s Court to criminally damaging the property, which was gutted last year.
He had also been accused of attacking his mother on the same date. However, she withdrew her complaint and the charge has been dropped.
Yesterday, Judge Ann Ryan noted that a positive probation report on the youth had been furnished to the court and efforts were being made to help him find a job.
She deferred sentencing him for eight weeks to let him get continued assistance from the Probation Service.
The teenager, who was accompanied to court by his father and a youth worker, was remanded on continuing bail.
The boy no longer lives with his family and is currently living in a children’s home.