A Garda helicopter and units of the Dublin Fire Brigade were called to bring a drunk youth down from the top of a high-rise flat, a court has heard.
The youth (17) had climbed to the top of the block of flats in Fatima Mansions.
Garda Patrick Smyth told Judge Bridget Reilly that there has been a constant problem with teenagers getting drunk at the top of these flats. The teenager was arrested for being so intoxicated that he was a danger to himself and others while on top of the block, at 4.25 a.m. on November 26th last.
The teenager had pleaded guilty to that charge as well as to trespassing with intent to commit an offence at the Dublin Children's Court. He already had 11 previous convictions for drug dealing and burglaries, Judge Reilly noted. Last year he had been given 180 hours community service in lieu of a three-month sentence. To date he has not made himself available to commence the community service, the court heard. Solicitor John Quinn told Judge Reilly that the youth was prepared to take a sentence and remain in St Patrick's Institution where he has been on remand since his arrest.
Sentencing him to four months, Judge Reilly said that the youth had been given an opportunity previously by way of community service, which did not take.
Earlier, the court had heard how the youth had developed a €250 a day heroin addiction. His family had believed that he was putting his life in danger.