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Teen who went on knife-wielding crime spree avoids detention
Summary
A 17‑year‑old boy from Shankill, Dublin, pleaded guilty to 12 offences, including robbery, attempted robbery, knife production and criminal damage, for incidents between August 2014 and October 2015. The most serious offences occurred on 21 October 2015 near Shankill Dart station, when he and an unnamed co‑accused threatened passers‑by with knives, robbed a man of his phone and wallet, punched him, robbed a teenage boy of his wallet after the boy threatened him with a bike lock, and threatened a father with a knife. The boy also threatened three men walking or jogging. He was arrested that night. The court noted he was two days from his 18th birthday and therefore treated as a juvenile. Judge Melanie Greally imposed a suspended three‑year sentence, requiring good behaviour, training and education, victim awareness and drug treatment programmes, with reactivation if conditions are breached. The boy was not detained.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Teen who went on knife-wielding crime spree avoids detention. Charges or matters: 12 charges including robbery, attempted robbery, production of a knife and criminal damage relating to incidents which took place between August 2014 and October 2015. Procedural stage: sentence
When:
- August 2014 Incident
- October 2015 Hearing Or Sentence
- October 21 Hearing Or Sentence
- August 2015 Incident
- 2016-07-21 Publication
Why: Judge Greally said that because the boy was still a juvenile, she must be mindful that a custodial sentence should only be imposed as a last resort. CNI source report
Case subjects
Defendant
Charges: 12 charges including robbery, attempted robbery, production of a knife and criminal damage relating to incidents which took place between August 2014 and October 2015 (Admitted)
Plea: Guilty
Outcome: The boy, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was given a suspended three-year sentence in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court after Judge Melanie Greally noted he was two days away from his 18th birthday and must therefore be treated as a juvenile. Judge Greally said that because the boy was still a juvenile, she must be mindful that a custodial sentence should only be imposed as a last resort. "By a hair's breadth, he is still a child," she said, noting he turns 18 this Friday.
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