Latest news with #BrendanToale
Irish Times
15-07-2025
- Irish Times
Teenager born in prison spared custodial sentence for theft
A youth described as 'failed by the State' – born in prison, predisposed to addiction from infancy and having spent his life in care – has been spared a custodial sentence for theft. The harrowing background was revealed when the now 18-year-old pleaded guilty to stealing €360 worth of clothes from a sportswear outlet in Tallaght, Dublin, on November 24th last. He cannot be named because he was 17 at the time of the offence and a juvenile when charged. At the Dublin Children's Court sentence hearing, Martin Dwan, defending, referred to the contents of a pre-sentence probation report and another from his guardian ad litem (GAL), a specialist appointed by a court to represent the best interests of a child in legal proceedings. READ MORE Counsel detailed the teenager's background, telling Judge Brendan Toale that the youth had been born in prison because his mother had been in custody and had serious addiction issues. He was also born with foetal alcoholism, and Mr Dwan emphasised the youth's 'tragic start in life', likening it to a 'heavy millstone around his neck'. He was in care from infancy, but at the age of six, he was placed in a foster home with a family, where he remained for a decade and had 'stability and a good nurturing life'. However, the youth was 'taken out' of that placement and later relocated to care homes around the country, lacking parental guidance. Mr Dwan quoted another judge, who dealt with one of the youth's earlier cases, that he was 'absolutely failed by the State in that regard'. An eleventh-hour GAL report was drafted when he turned 18 and reached adulthood, as Tusla implemented an aftercare plan. The youth listened intently but did not address the proceedings. The court heard that due to his mother's drinking problems, the teenager was predisposed to addiction. Mr Dwan elaborated about how the teenager went on to attend child and adolescent mental health services with issues including PTSD. The court heard that some problems coincided with the ending of his long-term foster placement. The teenager connected with his family and started to come to Garda attention, while abusing alcohol and drugs, which he had a predisposition to from birth. At one stage, the substance abuse induced psychosis, resulting in the teenager being hospitalised. Judge Toale noted the pre-sentence report assessed the young man as being at moderate risk of reoffending. He also noted the contents of the GAL report and what he termed the 'extraordinary background' to the case, and placed the teenager on supervised probation for six months. During that time, he must not reoffend and must comply with the directions of his probation officer to divert him from further offending; otherwise, the case could be reopened and a harsher penalty considered.
BreakingNews.ie
15-07-2025
- BreakingNews.ie
Prison-born teen 'failed by the State' avoids custody for theft
A youth described as 'failed by the State' – born in prison, predisposed to addiction from infancy, and having spent his life in care – has been spared a custodial sentence for theft. The harrowing background was revealed when the now 18-year-old pleaded guilty to stealing €360 worth of clothes from a sportswear outlet in Tallaght, Dublin, on November 24th last. Advertisement He cannot be named because he was 17 at the time of the offence and a juvenile when charged. At the Dublin Children's Court sentence hearing, Martin Dwan BL, defending, referred to the contents of a pre-sentence probation report and another from his guardian ad litem (GAL), a specialist appointed by a court to represent the best interests of a child in legal proceedings. Counsel detailed the teen's background, telling Judge Brendan Toale that the youth had been born in prison because his mother had been in custody and had serious addiction issues. He was also born with foetal alcoholism, and Mr Dwan emphasised the youth's "tragic start in life", likening it to a "heavy millstone around his neck". From infancy, he was in care, but at the age of six, he was placed in a foster home with a family, remaining there for a decade, where he had "stability and a good nurturing life". Advertisement However, the youth was "taken out" of that placement and later relocated to care homes around the country, lacking parental guidance. Mr Dwan quoted another judge, who dealt with one of the youth's earlier cases, that he was "absolutely failed by the State in that regard". An eleventh-hour GAL report was drafted when he turned 18 and reached adulthood, as Tusla implemented an aftercare plan. The youth listened intently but did not address the proceedings. Advertisement The court heard that due to his mother's drinking problems, the teen was predisposed to addiction. Mr Dwan elaborated about how the teen went on to attend child and adolescent mental health services with issues including PTSD. The court heard that some problems coincided with the ending of his long-term foster placement; the teenager connected with his family and started to come to garda attention, while abusing alcohol and drugs, which he had a predisposition to from birth. At one stage, the substance abuse induced psychosis, resulting in the teen being hospitalised. Judge Toale noted the pre-sentence report assessed the young man as being at moderate risk of reoffending. He also noted the contents of the GAL report and what he termed the "extraordinary background" to the case, and placed the teenager on supervised probation for six months. During that time, he must not reoffend and must comply with the directions of his probation officer to divert him from further offending; otherwise, the case could be reopened and a harsher penalty considered.
RTÉ News
04-07-2025
- RTÉ News
Two in court over petrol bomb attack of Dublin home
Two people have appeared in court charged in connection with a petrol bomb attack at a home in Dublin in May earlier this year. The three occupants were treated for non life-threatening injuries but their family dog died in the blaze. A 15-year-old boy, who cannot be named because he is a minor and has the right to anonymity, appeared before Judge Brendan Toale at the Dublin Children's Court. He was charged with arson of the house on Landen Road in Ballyfermot on 21 May. The teenager, accompanied to court by his mother, did not address the court and has yet to enter a plea. He made no reply when charged. Gardaí objected to bail. Judge Toale refused bail and remanded the teenager to the Oberstown Children's Detention Campus to appear again next week for directions from the DPP. Meanwhile, co-defendant, 23-year-old Curtis Stafford, of Rutland Grove, Crumlin, appeared before Judge Paula Murphy at Dublin District Court, also charged with arson. He was granted legal aid, refused bail and remanded in custody to appear again on 11 July. In the third arrest in this investigation, a teenage boy was detained under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act, 1984, at a Garda station in Dublin on Friday and could be held for 24 hours.
The Journal
27-06-2025
- The Journal
Teenage boy charged with attempted rape of woman in Dublin pub
A TEENAGE BOY is to face trial accused of sexually assaulting and attempting to rape a woman in a Dublin pub. The 17-year-old, who cannot be named for legal reasons, appeared before Judge Brendan Toale at the Dublin Children's Court after gardai received directions from the Director of Public Prosecutions. He faces two counts of attempted rape and one for sexual assault of the same named female on a date last year when he was aged 16. Judge Toale heard he made no reply when charged, and there was no garda objection to bail with conditions. Defence solicitor Martin O'Donnell informed the judge that his client had consented to sign on at a Garda station once a week and that he had no contact with the alleged injured party. Advertisement The teen was also ordered to hand over his passport to gardai. The court heard the DPP-directed trial on indictment, and due to the nature of the allegation, the youth will face trial in the Central Criminal Court, which has greater sentencing powers. He will appear again at the Children's Court in July to be served with the prosecution's book of evidence and returned for trial. Mr O'Donnell said he understood it was 'more or less ready'. Legal aid was granted to the teenager who was accompanied to court by family members. No evidence about the incident was given in the juvenile court, which does not have the power to consider accepting jurisdiction for the case.
Irish Daily Mirror
27-06-2025
- Irish Daily Mirror
Teen boy to face trial accused of attempted rape of woman in Dublin pub
A teenage boy is to face trial accused of sexually assaulting and attempting to rape a woman in a Dublin pub. The 17-year-old, who cannot be named for legal reasons, appeared before Judge Brendan Toale at the Dublin Children's Court after gardai received directions from the Director of Public Prosecutions. He faces two counts of attempted rape and one for sexual assault of the same named female on a date last year when he was aged 16. Judge Toale heard he made no reply when charged, and there was no garda objection to bail with conditions. Defence solicitor Martin O'Donnell informed the judge that his client had consented to sign on at a Garda station once a week and that he had no contact with the alleged injured party. The teen was also ordered to hand over his passport to gardai. The Irish Mirror's Crime Writers Michael O'Toole and Paul Healy are writing a new weekly newsletter called Crime Ireland. Click here to sign up and get it delivered to your inbox every week The court heard the DPP-directed trial on indictment, and due to the nature of the allegation, the youth will face trial in the Central Criminal Court, which has greater sentencing powers. He will appear again at the Children's Court in July to be served with the prosecution's book of evidence and returned for trial. Mr O'Donnell said he understood it was 'more or less ready'. Legal aid was granted to the teenager who was accompanied to court by family members. No evidence about the incident was given in the juvenile court, which does not have the power to consider accepting jurisdiction for the case.
