A teenager who allegedly pushed his mother and threatened to kill her because she wouldn’t give him money for cannabis, has been remanded into custody.
The 17-year-old, who cannot be named because of his age, was told to find an address by next week or face a longer stint in custody.
Newry Magistrates’ Court heard that on Tuesday, November 5, at approximately 1am, police were called to an address in the city regarding a domestic incident involving a mother and son.
The mother told police that her son was kicking her front door to gain entry to the house.
The defendant had returned to the property following a previous domestic incident reported earlier in the day, where the mother alleged he had been shouting at her, telling her ‘I would love to kill you’, and squaring up to her face.
The injured party further alleged her son had thrown a bottle of 7Up over the mirror in the living room and kicked the kitchen cupboard, causing damage to the door panel.
He is also alleged to have broken a free-standing water dispenser. He is also accused of spitting twice at his mother and pushing her onto the stairs.
The injured party believes the her son’s behaviour is due to her not providing him with money to buy cannabis.
The accused was located at the front of the property by police when they arrived at the house and he was arrested. He was taken to custody where he gave a no comment interview.
The defendant’s solicitor said it’s “an unfortunate familiar story, which Your Worship has seen too often now”.
He added: “There’s no record. I can obviously see way they don’t want him; she’s the injured party in the case, but he still is a youth, I suppose.
“It’s the first time in Woodlands [detention centre] so that might be a salutary lesson to him, but it could be a little while before Social Services get an address so that’s why I’ve asked to, perhaps, release him subject to that address being approved by police and Social Services.”
District Judge Eamon King said: “I’m going to have to make a decision here, as to whether or not I release you on bail.
“If I release you on bail without an address that puts you on the street. If there’s an allegation that you’re misusing substances, that might not be the safest thing for you, but between now and then, you’re going to have to find someone who will take you.”
The case was adjourned for one week to allow enquiries into a suitable bail address to be made. The youth was remanded back into custody until then.
