Burglar sparks crime wave

Detention for senior infant in trail of break-ins from Ballyhaunis to Blackrock A 13-YEAR-old boy who had been suspected of committing 60pc of burglaries in Rathfarnham and Tallaght, despite being on the educational level of a pupil in senior infants' class, has been committed to a detention school for two years. The boy, who was out of school and has learning difficulties and behavioural problems, had been convicted at the Dublin Children's Court for a string of burglary offences committed over a five-month period, which ended in March when he was remanded in custody. For most of the burglaries none of the stolen property has been recovered, including ?5,000 of jewellery taken when he broke into a house in Crumlin, the court heard. In recent months the court has been told the boy had been involved in a wave of crimes "from Ballyhaunis to Blackrock" which started in July 2002 when he was aged 11. The boy has been taken into custody for questioning 37 times. This year he had been questioned 11 times in connection with 80 offences, mostly burglaries, which have been investigated by gardai from 13 stations. A computerised crime trend analysis on the pattern of offences deducted he was linked to the majority of burglaries in Tallaght and Rathfarnham from the start of the year until the end of March. The boy had not been attending school and his educational level was once described as being that of a child in senior infants' class. The court had also heard that the boy did not have a social worker but social services had him at "the top of the priority list." In many court appearances, the boy had become volatile and had shouted threats at gardai. Once he charged at a garda and threatened him in the courtroom. Defending solicitor Ms Sarah Molloy told Judge Thomas Fitzpatrick the case had been protracted by the efforts to find a suitable facility . A place in a special children's detention school in Co Tipperary was available. The boy, whose father was present, had come to court with his bags packed and was willing to stay in the school, the judge was told. Jim McGuirk, of the Special Residential Services Board, said the school was eager to work with the boy as soon as possible. But he would have to give a commitment and also show that he was willing to work if they were to help him. Judge Fitzpatrick ordered a term of two years committing the boy to the detention school. At an earlier hearing, the court heard how the boy had broken into a house in Knocklyon Grove, Templeogue, Dublin in the early hours of January 12 and stole a wedding ring and some bracelets, worth ?800, which were still missing. On March 12, he smashed his way into a house Nutgrove Avenue, Rathfarnham but was disturbed by the homeowner. He made off with ?70. He had also admitted attacking a garda at the courthouse. He had been subject of a routine search when he punched the garda in his stomach and spat at him. During another burglary, which he admitted, in Crumlin, Dublin, he made off with an eternity ring worth ?3,000, a ?2,000 solitaire ring , a ?200 mobile phone and a digital camera worth ?350.Tuite