Gardaí called as egg problem reaches boiling point, court hears
A Garda inspector was brought into an investigation to stamp out the problem of egg-throwing youths in Cabra, a court heard today.
Garda Inspector Eugene Brennan, Cabra Station told Judge Michael Connellan at the Children’s Court that residents had been complaining about the on-going problem of youths pelting people with eggs on Fassaugh Avenue, in Dublin.
He said that on September 9 he went to the area in plain clothing to investigate the locals’ complaints.
Previously, there had been numerous reports over youths creating a nuisance by continually pelting passers-by, people waiting at bus stops and motorists with eggs.
As a result the shops in the area were advised to stop selling eggs to young people, he said.
Garda Inspector Brennan said that he had just come out of a shop he saw a group of youths, including a 15-year-old schoolboy, throwing eggs.
Inspector Brennan said he observed the boy and the group enter the grounds of a church where they continued to throw eggs at each other as well as passers-by.
A group of schoolgirls also had eggs thrown at them. One of the girls had to step from the footpath onto the street to avoid being hit and was nearly run over by a passing car.
Judge Connellan was told that Garda Garret Lynch was scrambled from Cabra Station to come to the scene to help catch the culprits.
Garda Lynch arrested the schoolboy nearby and charged him with breach of the peace which he admitted yesterday.
Judge Connellan said that he was considering cancelling the teenager’s free legal aid after hearing that the boy had money to spend on eggs which he then threw at people.
In relation to the incident where the schoolgirls got hit, he said: “I could understand him throwing kisses at the girls but I can’t understand him throwing eggs at them."
He also added that the boy needed a “course in manners” with the incident nearly resulting in serious consequences for the girl who narrowly averted being run over when she ducked to avoid the flying eggs.
Defence solicitor Ms Ciara McCann said the boy’s mother, who was visibly upset in court, was shocked by her son’s involvement in the incident.
Ms McCann said the boy's mother was “horrified and appalled”.
In pleas for leniency for the boy, who had never been in trouble with the gardaí before, Ms McCann said his behaviour on the day was part of a pattern.
Inspector Brennan also told the court that since then, there have been no more reports of egg throwing youths in Fassaugh Avenue.
Judge Connellan said the teenager had managed to complete the Junior Certificate but added: “He should take a course in manners.”
He said he would give the schoolboy a chance and applied the Probation Act leaving him without a conviction.
