'Slammer gun' unrecovered as two teens get strict bail over house attack
The mother of the household that was damaged became upset and told the contested bail hearing that she feared for her family
Stock photo
A "slammer gun" allegedly fired by a youth at a house in Mullingar, Co Westmeath, earlier this week, has yet to be recovered, a court has heard.
A 16-year-old boy, who allegedly filmed the gun attack, was granted bail under strict conditions, including a curfew and social media ban, by Judge Bernadette Owens at Mullingar District Court yesterday.
She warned the youth that it could be revoked "at a whiff of a breach".
The teenager, who cannot be identified because he is a juvenile, was charged with unlawful possession of a "slammer" gun, contrary to the Firearms Act, and criminal damage to the front door of a residential property.
He was the second juvenile charged in connection with the incident in the Ardleigh Park area of Mullingar at about 1.40 pm on Monday, in which an improvised gun was used.
The mother of the household that was damaged became upset and told the contested bail hearing that she feared for her family, saying her home should be a place of safety.
Garda Darren Gallagher objected to bail and presented video evidence of the incident which was said to have occurred as part of an ongoing feud.
Court Sergeant Sheila Kenny also voiced concerns about the involvement of a firearm that has yet to be recovered.
She added that the prosecution had taken on board that detention ought to be a last resort for a child and stated that there would be agreement to bail with "stringent conditions".
Judge Owens remanded the teenager, whose phone has been seized as part of the investigation, on bail pending directions from the Director of Public Prosecutions to appear again on September 18.
She warned the teenager that he must reside at a specific address and notify gardaí of any change, provide a contact phone number, obey a 10 pm to 6 am curfew, stay out of Mullingar except for court hearings or consultations with his solicitor, stay off social media, and not communicate with his co-accused.
The boy spoke briefly to confirm he understood the terms.
The court has heard CCTV footage from the injured party's house showing him and his co-accused walking towards the house.
It was alleged he filmed the incident as the co-accused assembled an improvised shotgun, known as a "slammer", followed by a loud bang, which sent pellets through the wood of the front door, before both fled.
His co-accused, another 16-year-old boy, was charged with the same firearms and criminal damage offences on Tuesday and refused bail following objections by Garda Adrian O'Reilly.
After being held at the Oberstown Children's Detention Centre for two nights, he was released on bail yesterday/today.
Accompanied to court by his mother, he was warned to obey similar strict conditions and that gardaí could check curfew compliance at any time.
He will appear again next week.
