Schoolboy sent for milk ends up in off-licence fight
Athy Courthouse
A SCHOOLBOY who was sent for milk but ended up in a fight in an off-licence will have to wait to have his court case heard, after his co-defendant cousin failed to show up.
“What is a 14-year-old boy doing in an off-licence?” enquired Judge Desmond Zaidan at Athy District Court.
“His mother sent him to get milk,” offered defending solicitor Jacqui McManus.
The offence is alleged to have occurred in an off-licence on 9 November. The Co Kildare teenager cannot be identified as he is a juvenile. He appeared in court in his school uniform, accompanied by both his parents.
Sergeant Dave Hanrahan said that gardaí were called to a disturbance in a named establishment, where three youths were fighting. The defendant gave a false name.
At this point, the boy’s mother stood up to explain the happenings that day to the judge.
She alleged: “A man and a woman in the shop accused two others of damaging their car and wouldn’t let them out of the shop. They hit my son.”
The judge warned the teenager: “Don’t be hanging around with the wrong cousins. If you’re found guilty, I can send you to Oberstown for one year. I understand boys can be mischievous, but don’t cross the line into criminal.”
Then the judge took an obtuse line, pointing at the back wall.
“What colour is that? Green?” he asked the boy.
“No, it’s yellow,” replied the bemused teen.
“You see? You can tell right from wrong,” said the judge, before turning to the parents.
“You want better for him?” he asked.
“Oh yes!” said the mother.
“He’s already in the juvenile liaison scheme,” she admitted.
“That’s worrying,” said the judge, “that means he’s already acted the maggot.”
“He’s not mixing with that crew anymore,” said the mother.
“Will you give a commitment to stay beyond the junior cert?” asked the judge, and the boy nodded.
The judge told him: “If you are without skills, people will use you for their own benefit. They will take advantage of your good nature. Stay with the boxing and the soccer. And you like PE? Keep it up.”
“Look after this boy,” he said to the parents, before turning to the schoolboy with a last bit of encouragement.
“Give it a go and remember, you don’t have to be an Einstein … in school I was useless at maths,” the judge admitted, before remanding the boy on continuing bail to reappear on 10 June for hearing.
