Teen to be tried for burglary in which women allegedly threatened in bedroom

A 17-year-old male will be tried as an adult for taking part in a burglary where two young women were allegedly threatened in their bedroom by masked raiders.

The teenager, who is still a juvenile, was served with a book of evidence today when he appeared at Dublin Children's Court.

Judge Sinéad Ní Chúlacháin made an order sending him forward for trial to the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, which has tougher sentencing powers.

His arrest came after a tracker app on a phone taken during the burglary led gardaí to his home.

The teenager, who cannot be named at present because he is a minor, is charged with burglary at a house in which the two women, both student teachers, were living in Beaumont, Dublin, in the early hours of January 27th last.

The teenager was remanded on continuing bail pending his next hearing on October 17th.

Judge and jury

He has not yet indicated how he will be pleading, and will have reached adulthood by the time he has to face the Circuit Court, where he could end up on trial before a judge and jury.

Judge Ní Chúlacháin warned the teenager yesterday that if he intended to rely on an alibi the prosecution must be informed within 14 days.