A Dublin youth has been ordered to carry out 200 hours of community service after he admitted selling an addictive crystal meth-like drug to an undercover garda.
The 17-year-old boy was arrested during a Garda crackdown codenamed “Hesitate”.
The six-week covert operation was aimed at identifying drug pushers operating in Dublin’s north inner city, in particular the St Mary’s Mansions area.
It was prompted by feedback from residents and led to seven arrests, among them two juveniles.
One of the minors was dealt with through the Garda juvenile diversion programme while the second was charged with drug dealing, at St Mary’s Mansions on September 25 last.
The 17-year-old repeat offender pleaded guilty at the Dublin Children’s Court. Judge John O’Connor held that the teenager must carry out the community service work to avoid a six-month sentence.
Judge O’Connor said the youth now has a significant amount of convictions and was very close to going into custody. However, he noted the Probation Service found he was suitable for community service.
The drug listed on the charge sheet was, “Pyrolindinovaleraphenon”, a highly addictive drug known as PVP.
Judge O’Connor heard it was a synthetic substance, in a crystal form which was being sold “as crystal meth”. The boy sold a wrap of the drug, worth €25, to an undercover garda.
The north inner city Dublin youth, who was accompanied to court by his mother and his lawyer, also admitted he supplied €50 worth of cocaine on October 24 last at St Mary’s Mansions.
The youth, who cannot be named because he is a minor, pleaded guilty to a number of other offences: unlawfully driving without a licence or insurance on August 2nd last; two minor hit and run incidents on September 23rd last; trespassing with intent to interfere with property on August 23rd last; unlawfully driving on May 10 last; breach of the peace and theft of €16 worth of sweets on August 3 last year.
He also admitted driving without care and attention while not having a licence or insurance on September 26th last year, and Judge O’Connor imposed a four-year road ban on him.
He already had 17 prior criminal convictions and a four-year road ban for criminal damage, public order, theft, dangerous and careless driving as well as other motoring offences.
The teen hoped to go to a residential centre which provides help troubled young people and was willing to do community service, Judge John O’Connor heard.
He had said the teenager had decided to risk lives and had shown disregard for road traffic laws and public safety.