The teenager is charged with the unlawful taking of vehicles contrary to Section 112 of the Road Traffic Act at four locations in Limerick in 2024

A Limerick city teenager has appeared in the children’s court in connection with a spate of alleged car thefts across Clare, Limerick and Tipperary committed when the boy was aged 13.

At the Children’s Court in Ennis, the boy – now 15 – has been charged with 11 offences, mainly alleged car thefts during 2024 and the early part of 2025 when the teenager was aged 13.

In the case, the teenager is charged with seven car thefts, one attempted car theft along with the theft of a pedal cycle and stealing petrol. The teenager is charged with the unlawful taking of vehicles contrary to Section 112 of the Road Traffic Act at four locations in Limerick in 2024.

The charges relate to alleged car thefts at O’Brien’s Park, Clare Street, Limerick on July 4, 2024; at University Hospital Limerick (UHL), St Nessan’s Rd, Limerick on September 17, 2024, Grove Island Student Accommodation, Corbally, Limerick in October 2024 and at Ballinacurra Gardens, Ballinacurra, Limerick on December 19, 2024.

The teenager is also charged with car thefts at Patrick Street, Clarecastle, Co Clare on September 23, 2024 and at Dunnes Stores Car Park, Ennis on January 16, 2025.

The teenager is also charged with attempting to steal a Toyota Silver Aqua from TESCO Car Park, Francis Street, Ennis on February 8, 2025.The teenager is also charged with the unlawful taking of a vehicle from Woodview Service Station, Lisava, Cahir, Tipperary on December 1, 2024 and the stealing of petrol to the value of €25.96 at the same location on the same date.

Sgt Shane Graham said that he arrested the teenager at Oberstown Detention Facility and later brought him to Ennis Garda Station for the purpose of charge where he was charged with the offences in the presence of his mother.

The boy’s mother accompanied the teenager to court and Sgt Graham said that he would be objecting to bail if there was an application for bail.

However, solicitor, Daragh Hassett for the accused said that there was no application for bail.

Sgt Graham said that an amount of matters relate to charges in Clare and the Limerick matters came to the fore during Garda questioning “and I submitted a file to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP)”.

Sgt John Burke told the court that the DPP has directed that the case go forward to the circuit court on indictment.

Mr Hassett said that Judge Adrian Harris has a crucial role to play in the case as it is a juvenile case he can overrule the DPP’s circuit court direction after hearing an outline of the facts in a Section 75 of the Children’s Act hearing at the Children’s Court. Mr Hassett said that his client is anxious to deal with the charges in a certain fashion.

Judge Harris remanded the teenager in detention to Oberstown Detention facility and the Section 75 hearing is to take place at Killaloe District Court sitting in Ennis on September 1.