A teenage boy who falsely imprisoned Joan Burton will escape a criminal conviction if he stays out of trouble for the next nine months.
The 17-year-old was found guilty of restricting the personal liberty of the former Tánaiste and her adviser during a water charge protest in Dublin.
The court heard the boy was in Joan Burton’s face with a mobile phone recording her movement from a graduation ceremony to a nearby church on Nov 15th 2014..
Video footage showed him later blocking the passage of an unmarked Garda car carrying the then Tánaiste and her adviser Karen O’Connell.
The women were moved to a Garda jeep where the boy used a megaphone to direct fellow protesters to sit down in front of it.
Judge King found him guilty on both counts this morning and agreed to proceed straight to sentencing.
Detective Garda Paul Smith said he accepted the boy was sorry and that Ms. Burton has no desire for any young person to go to jail over this.
The court heard he’s very active in his community – he is a good student with a supportive family and works with the homeless.
Judge King decided to apply a nine month conditional discharge which means he won’t receive a criminal conviction on these charges if he doesn’t get into trouble during that time.
