A 17-year-old Dublin boy has avoided jail after being convicted of an attempted extortion involving threats to petrol bomb a mother’s home.
Dublin Children’s Court heard the youth, who had previously been friends with the victim’s son, demanded money and a video game console.
He was charged under Section 17 of the Public Order Act for making an unjustified claim involving threats of €700 and a PlayStation.
He was also accused of threatening damage to their home in Blanchardstown, Dublin.
He denied the charges and in October faced a hearing before Judge Paul Kelly, who believed the state had proved its charges against the youth.
Judge Kelly sentenced him yesterday but spared him imprisonment. He was handed a 12-month suspended sentence.
The teenager must not reoffend and must accept guidance from the probation service.
The victim had previously told the court that her windshield had been smashed. The defendant came to her home and told her, “I’m sorry someone did that, smashed your window,” and said her son owed him 700 euros.
She claimed the youngster then said if he doesn’t get the money and a PlayStation, “in the next 24 hours I’m going to… bomb the house with a petrol bomb.”
She told the court that a second person was with the boy, but he remained silent.
The teenager had previously been friends with her son.
When asked how she felt about it, she replied: “Fear. I’m still scared.” Her father came to block the broken window. He told the court he heard the defendant say his grandson owed money, but he said the Gardaí boy was on the road.
He said the teenager walked on and said, “We’ll be back; we’ll be back.” we will bomb the house with petrol bombs.”
The teenager denied making the threat but claimed he went to the house after hearing a rumor that people said he broke their window. He claimed he went there to say he didn’t and to clear his name.
However, the defendant denied the threat.
He was 15 years old at the time of the September 2020 incident.
At yesterday’s sentencing hearing, Judge Kelly refused to release the boy, who did not accept the court’s verdict, without a recorded criminal conviction.
