A HOMELESS teenager has been jailed for five years for his role in stealing a jacket and runners from another youth in Dublin city centre.
However, Judge Kieran O'Connor said he would review the sentence on Neil Reid again at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court on July 1st next. If he received favourable reports he would consider suspending the balance of the sentence.
"This was a despicable offence. Robbery from the person is the worst form of theft I know. You have some months now to consider what kind of prison. You are going to be. The choice is yours," Judge O'Connor told him.
Reid (17), originally from London, pleaded guilty to stealing a jacket, a sweatshirt and runners from a 16 year old youth on December 30th, 1995.
Defence counsel, Ms Isobel Kennedy, said Reid had no family contact and no stability in his life. She noted he maintained contact with the gardai since his arrest for this offence for which he was "extremely remorseful".
Ms Kennedy said Reid had overcome a three year spell of heroin abuse and bought £50-£60 worth of methadone on the streets. He lived on a night tonight basis in accommodation arranged here for him by the social services.
Counsel said Reid came to Ireland from London after difficulties arose between him and the grandparents who reared him there.
Garda Padraig Dolan said the victim had just crossed the Halfpenny Bridge from Temple Bar and saw three youths who included Reid at Liffey Street.
One of youths pressed what seemed to be a knife to his back and said: "I want your jacket and, runners. Walk where we want you to."
Garda Dolan told Ms Mary Ellen Ring, prosecuting, that the victim was forced to an isolated lane off Capel Street and made hand over his jacket, runners and a sweatshirt. Reid was arrested on January 9th last as a result of the victim's description and admitted his role. None of the others was charged.
Reid said the only reason he was present was that one of the others owed him money and had been dodging him for weeks. He had the sweatshirt returned to the victim but the jacket and runners were not recovered.