Portlaoise Court: Teen who was taught to steal gets six months
The teenager appeared at Portlaoise District Court
A TEENAGER who was taught to steal by his family since childhood and became a father at the age of 13 was sentenced to six months’ detention for a series of thefts in Portlaoise and Mountrath.
Now aged 17, the boy already has 94 previous convictions and started taking cocaine when he was only ten, having used cannabis since he was eight.
Judge Andrew Cody commented at Portlaoise District Court: “Almost 100 previous convictions and he’s not yet 18. He will break the century by the time he is 18.”
The teenager was brought to court from Oberstown youth detention centre, having had his case adjourned for probation and other reports. He was charged with stealing alcohol from four local shops within three weeks, as well as an assault.
All the offences occurred in March 2023, beginning with assault causing harm and the theft of four bottles of Hennessy brandy worth €158 from SuperValu on Lyster Square, Portlaoise on 3 March.
Nine days later, he stole wine from Spar Express on the Limerick road in Mountrath. On 20 March, he took a bottle of Smirnoff vodka, cranberry juice and a tote bag from Lidl in Portlaoise.
The following day, he stole five bottles of Hennessy brandy worth €280 from Dunnes Stores on the Mountmellick Road in Portlaoise.
The teenager, who has a Laois address, cannot be named as he is aged under 18.
Defending barrister Andrew Dunne said the reports showed the boy suffered neglect from an early age. His mother left when he was only a few weeks old and he was initially raised by his father, who unfortunately had a bad alcohol dependency.
As a result, the boy had severe trust issues and ended up in care. His dad never visited him.
Mr Dunne said: “From a very young age, he was taught by his family how to steal and how to evade gardaí. He knew no different, this is what he grew up with. It started with cereal boxes and then moved on to clothes and alcohol. He started using substances when he was eight, first weed and then cocaine at the age of ten.”
Mr Dunne said the teenager never had a stable home and he became a father at the age of 13. He now has a young daughter and a baby son.
However, he has done extremely well in Oberstown, where he did his junior cert and is looking forward to sitting the leaving cert this year. He hopes to go on to study architecture. He also did a parenting course and is very engaged with every aspect of his baby’s life.
The barrister said: “He has a great relationship with the staff in Oberstown and took on a leadership role there. He works well with his addiction counsellor and has been sober since January 2024, having been very heavily dependent on crystal meth.”
Mr Dunne said the teenager had reunited with his father, who also did a parenting course and they are developing a relationship.
Describing his client as very polite and pleasant, the barrister told Judge Cody: “This is a young man who just wants a normal life. He will receive after-care until he is 23 and he knows he has to use the supports available to him.”
Having considered the reports, Judge Cody imposed six months’ detention for the SuperValu assault and a concurrent six months for the Dunnes Stores theft. Remaining charges were taken into consideration.
