A teenage boy, who stole a double-decker bus in Dublin and took it for a 30-minute drive before handing himself over to Gardaí, has been spared a custodial sentence.
Dublin Children’s Court heard the 17-year-old boy was missing from a care unit when he stole the bus from outside the Go Ahead Ireland premises in Ballymount in August last year.
A six-month probation bond was imposed. The boy pleaded guilty to the bus theft charge when he appeared before Judge Paul Kelly.
The court heard the teenager, who had left his care facility in Cork, managed to get the bus started, and headed along the Naas Road and went on a drive for about 30 minutes before bringing the bus back.
He then presented himself at Ballyfermot Garda station.
Charges for driving without a licence or insurance were dropped, and the defence confirmed there was a guilty plea to stealing the bus.
The DPP directed that the case should not be sent to a higher court, and Judge Kelly accepted jurisdiction.
The teen had one prior offence for stealing a phone in a supermarket in Co. Cork.
The court heard he’s now in new accommodation in Dublin and looking to learn a trade.
Earlier, the judge granted the teen legal aid and told him to “stay off the buses other than being a passenger“.
