Dublin teen (15) granted bail following hour-long M1 pursuit

Tom Tuite

A 15-year-old boy charged with motor theft and dangerous driving following an hour-long pursuit from north Dublin to Co Louth in the early hours of Monday morning has been granted bail with strict conditions.

At about 4.30am on Monday, a car with three people failed to stop for gardaí in the Whitehall area of Dublin 9, but was intercepted following a lengthy managed containment operation about an hour later.

The boy, who cannot be named because he is a juvenile, appeared at Dublin Children's Court charged with unlawful use of a stolen 2007-registered vehicle, along with two counts of dangerous driving at the M1 Junction 2 southbound and Junction 13, on the same motorway, at Dunleer, Co Louth.

The Dublin boy made "no reply" when charged.

Bail terms were imposed by Judge Brendan Toale, who ordered the boy to obey a nightly curfew, have no contact with two other named males, and not to be in or on a motor vehicle unless he was with a qualified insured driver.

The boy, who has yet to enter a plea and was accompanied to court by a family member and legal representative, was remanded on bail to appear again in April for directions from the Director of Public Prosecutions regarding possible further charges.