Charges against a teenager who was caught with drug-dealing paraphernalia in his bedroom were dismissed yesterday after he successfully completed a crime-diversion programme.
The Dublin Children's Court had heard that the teenager, then aged 16, was arrested after gardaí received confidential information relating to the sale of drugs in a north Dublin secondary school.
The teenager's home was searched, leading to the discovery of €461 and a small amount of cannabis believed to be worth €13.
Garda Maire McDevitt, of Clontarf station, had told the court earlier that she found drug-producing paraphernalia in the boy's room: a cannabis plant, a bag of baking soda, an ultraviolet light and a knife.
A notepad containing a list of figures, names and dates was also discovered in the bedroom.
The boy, now aged 17, had pleaded guilty to two counts of possession of drugs and also admitted another charge for possession of cocaine for sale or supply to another at his home on December 16th, 2003. He had no previous criminal convictions.
The case had been adjourned until yesterday to allow the teenager take part in a crime-diversion programme arranged through the Probation and Welfare Services.
Judge Aingeal Ní Chondúin dismissed the charges against the teenager yesterday on hearing that he had complied with all of the programme's recommendations.