Three teenagers appeared before the Children's Court in Dublin yesterday charged in connection with the fatal stabbing of Alan Higgins (17) in Coolock, Dublin, at the weekend. A 15-year-old boy was charged with manslaughter and two 16-year-olds were charged with robbery.
Judge James Paul McDonnell remanded the three boys on continuing bail for four weeks. He also ordered that they sign on each day at Coolock Garda station and observe a nightly curfew.
The 15-year-old boy was first before the court. Det Sgt Donal Brazil of Coolock Garda station said that the boy had nothing to say when he was cautioned early yesterday after his arrest. The boy's mother and father were present at the hearing and answered questions on his behalf.
Det Sgt Brazil asked the court to place two conditions on the boy's continuing bail: first that he sign on daily at Coolock Garda station between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. and second that he obey a curfew between 10 p.m. and 7 a.m.
Asked by the judge whether it was likely that there would be further charges, Det Sgt Brazil replied that the Director of Public Prosecutions was being consulted on the matter.
The judge told the boy's parents that they needed to realise the seriousness of the charges and said that one or both of them should take an active interest in their son's compliance with the bail conditions.
The judge specified that the boy should remain at his home during the curfew and not at a grandparent's or a friend's house. He also said that gardaí were entitled to demand that the boy show his face if and when they called to his home.
The second teenager before the court was a 16-year-old, who was present with his father, a warehouse worker. This boy was arrested late on Monday and was charged early yesterday with the robbery of a wallet and a mobile phone, both of unknown value.
The judge ordered him to sign on at Coolock Garda station between the extended hours of 8 a.m. and 9 p.m. The longer signing-on time was granted to allow the boy to continue working in a job on the south side of the city.
Det Sgt Brazil noted that further charges might be proffered. However, because of the complexity of the investigations, directions from the DPP might not be available within four weeks.
The third teenager, also aged 16, was present in court with his mother. He was arrested and charged early yesterday. Like the others, he made no reply when cautioned. This boy, who is also working, was told to sign on at Coolock Garda station between 8 a.m. and 9 p.m. and to obey the same curfew conditions as the two other teenagers.
As with the other cases, the judge said that the boy's parents should take a keen interest in the conditions of his bail being met.
During the hearings, Judge McDonnell reminded the media of their obligations under law not to identify any of the children before the court.
He ordered that no photographs should be taken of any of the children or their parents, in the precincts of the courthouse, which, he said, included the roads and streets around it.
The order was made following a complaint by Mr Eoin Lysaght, representing the 15-year-old boy, who said that his client and his client's family had been photographed leaving the courthouse.
The three cases relate to the same incident last Saturday night, when Mr Higgins was fatally stabbed outside a cinema complex.
The three teenagers, all of whom are from north Dublin, were remanded to appear before the court on November 12th.