A grandmother's plea persuaded Judge Yvonne Murphy at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to release a young man on bail over Christmas. Ms Elizabeth Burke told Judge Murphy that she had lost four children to drug addiction and had also lost her house after her children took up drugs. "My children lost to drugs. I don't want my grandson to lose, too," she said.
Alan Hutch (18), of Portland Place, Dublin, pleaded guilty to stealing two cars from Clonliffe Road, Dublin, on June 11th, 2000; theft of a motorcycle and dangerous driving at Botanic Road on March 12th, 2000; and theft of a car in Howth on May 7th, 2000.
Judge Murphy said she would release him until the case was mentioned again on March 1st provided he lived with his grandmother and entered a FAS course.