A 13-year old boy was detected stealing cars at locations in Limerick city and Co Clare after gardai identified the boy carrying out the car thefts from footage on ‘open source social media’.
In the case, the boy – now 15 – has pleaded guilty to 11 offences, mainly alleged car thefts during 2024 and the early part of 2025 when the Limerick teenager was aged 13.
At the Children’s Court at Killaloe District Court sitting in Ennis, he pleaded guilty to seven car thefts, one attempted car theft along with the theft of a pedal cycle and stealing petrol at locations in Clare, Limerick and Tipperary.
The teenager has pleaded guilty to the unlawful taking of vehicles contrary to Section 112 of the Road Traffic Act at four locations in Limerick in 2024.
He watched on at court proceedings via video link from a booth in Oberstown Detention facility at Lusk in Dublin where he is currently serving a sentence for a separate offence.
Sgt Shane Graham said that in a car theft at O’Brien’s Park, Clare Street, Limerick on July 4th 2024 three youths forced the driver’s door opening with a crow bar and drove off.
Sgt Graham said that the youths had their hoods up and a zipped hood to cover their faces but Gardai were able to positively identify the accused “from open source social media”.
Sgt Graham said that during the course of Garda interviews, the accused made admissions.
In relation to another of the four car thefts in Limerick at University Hospital Limerick (UHL), St Nessan’s Rd, Limerick on September 17th 2024, Sgt Graham said that a car was stolen from UHL’s underground car park and the accused was identified from CCTV and a blood sample taken from the car matched the accused’s DNA.
The accused also stole a car at Grove Island Student Accommodation, Corbally, Limerick in October 2024.
In relation to a car theft at Patrick Street, Clarecastle, Co Clare on September 23rd 2024, Sgt Graham said that Gardai were able to identify the accused from open source social media, CCTV and the accused DNA matched a blood sample found in the car.
The teenager has also pleaded guilty to attempting to steal a Toyota Silver Aqua from TESCO Car Park, Francis Street, Ennis on February 8th 2025.
Sgt Graham said that the accused was identified after an eye witness took a photograph of the teenager at the scene.
The teenager has also pleaded guilty to the unlawful taking of a vehicle from Woodview Service Station, Lisava, Cahir, Tipperary on December 1st 2024 and the stealing of petrol to the value of €25.96 at the same location on the same date.
The youth – represented by solicitor, Daragh Hassett – entered the guilty pleas after Judge Adrian Harris said that he would accept district court jurisdiction in the case.
In making his ruling, Judge Harris over-ruled a recommendation by the DPP for the teenager to face trial by indictment in the circuit court on the charges.
Mr Hassett told his client that a Probation Report will be prepared in Oberstown for the sentencing hearing.
The accused was remanded in custody to September 23rd when sentencing will take place.