A 15-year old boy yesterday appeared before the Children’s Court in Ennis charged with falsely imprisoning a motorist in Ennis in August of last year.
At the court in Ennis yesterday, Inspector Tom Kennedy said that it will be alleged that the teenager had a significant involvement in the incident that also involved other individuals before the courts.
Giving an outline of the State’s case against the teen, Inspector Kennedy said: “It will be alleged that the teenager punched the driver a number of times in the car and forced him to drive and retained him in the car.”
In the case, the Ennis boy – who was accompanied by his mother to court yesterday – is charged with falsely imprisoning a 17-year-old at Quin Rd, Ennis on August 19th last contrary to Section 15 of the Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person Act.
The boy – who cannot be named for legal reasons – is also charged with unlawfully taking possession of a car without the consent of the owner on the same date.
The incident occurred only nine days after the teen celebrated his 15th birthday on August 10th last.
Inspector Kennedy said that the boy was one of a number of individuals who got into the car.
He said: “They drove to the Dromard area of Ennis and went from there to the Cloughleigh housing estate before going back to Ennis town to Parnell Street car-park.”
Inspector Kennedy said the victim asked the individuals to get out but was assaulted.
After hearing an outline of the facts, Judge Durcan declined jurisdiction and the case will now be heard in the circuit court.
As a result, the boy faces potentially a much stiffer sentence if convicted of false imprisonment in the circuit court.
If the case had remained in the district court, the teen would have faced a 12 month jail term and a fine if convicted. However, the penalty for the offence in the circuit court on conviction is life.
Judge Durcan remanded the boy on bail and adjourned the case for mention to Ennis District Court next Wednesday, June 11th. Jurisdiction has also been declined in relation to two others facing charges from the same incident.
