A homeless 16-year-old youth arrested for looting during the riots that erupted at last month's Love Ulster rally in Dublin appeared at the Children's Court yesterday charged with burglary.
Garda Tim Casey, Pearse Street station, told Judge Catherine Murphy that he arrested the youth at Kildare Place, in the city, on March 4th last.
The teenager was taken to Pearse Street station where he was held for questioning for nearly five hours under section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act.
He was then released and charged in the presence of his 18-year-old cousin, who is also his acting guardian.
He made no reply when cautioned and was released to appear in court yesterday where he was charged with burglary of the Foot Locker Shop on O'Connell Street, which was ransacked during the riots on February 25th.
Judge Murphy granted legal aid to the youth, who is a member of the Travelling community. His parents were not in court during the proceedings.
Defence solicitor Catherine Ghent said he had been accompanied to court by a staff member from the Focus Ireland agency for the homeless, his cousin and a Traveller care assistant. He lives in emergency accommodation for the homeless.
Judge Murphy remanded him on bail to appear again next month pending the DPP's directions.
He was the third juvenile so far to be charged in connection with the riots. He had spent the night before his court appearance on the streets.
A Georgian youth (17), who had been charged with burglary of the Schuh Shop on O'Connell Street during the riots and with possession of pliers for use in a connection with a theft, was yesterday remanded on continuing bail pending directions from the DPP.