A schoolboy charged in relation to a collision on the N7 in December which left another young person in serious condition in hospital has had his case adjourned until February 15th, at Naas district court in Co Kildare.
The 16-year-old boy from Tallaght in Dublin, who cannot be identified due to his age, is accused of being the driver of the vehicle which crashed on the road at Johnstown, Kildare on December 28th.
The incident began at 3pm when gardaí received a report of a burglary at a house in Athy. The intruders were disturbed and fled from the scene in a waiting car when the occupants of the house returned home
During a follow-up operation, members of the Garda anti-burglary unit, operating as part of Operation Thor, intercepted a car on the N7 at approximately 3.45pm.
The car initially stopped for gardaí but when approached took off at speed in the direction of Dublin, gardaí said.
Moments later the car was involved in a collision with another car on the N7 at Johnstown.
One teenager was taken to hospital where he remains in a serious condition. Another three young males were arrested. The occupants of the second car suffered minor injuries.
Charged
The 16-year-old boy was charged at Naas District Court the following day with dangerous driving, possession of an article for use in a burglary and having no insurance.
He was released on bail with no objections from gardaí at his initial court appearance.
On Thursday Judge Desmond Zaidan sitting again at Naas District Court was told by gardaí it could take a total of six weeks to prepare the file and receive instructions from the DPP.
Judge Zaidan was told the file was complex and would include at least six witness statements and a complete forensic examination of the crash scene.
The defendant’s barrister, Gerry Kennedy BL, said his client would consent to a further adjournment but asked the court if it would agree that his client not be required to appear for mentions of the case. His client was cooperating with bail conditions and should be in school, he said.
However Judge Zaidan said “the allegations are very serious,” and ruled the boy attend court every time the case was listed.
The boy was accompanied to court by his father.
At the previous hearing, bail conditions imposed included that he must keep the peace and sign on daily at Tallaght Garda station. He was also instructed to obey a curfew and not to drive a car.
