Gardaí were able to identify a 13 year old boy who was stealing cars across Limerick City and Co Clare through social media.
These offences occurred in late 2024 and early 2025 across Limerick, Clare and Tipperary, with the 13 year old boy, identified through footage shared on social media.
The boy who is now aged 15, pleaded guilty to 11 offences, including seven car thefts, one attempted car theft, along with the theft of a pedal cycle and stealing petrol. He also pleaded guilty to unlawful taking of vehicles contrary to Section 112 of the Road Traffic Act at four locations in Limerick in 2024.
He appeared in court via video link from Oberstown Children Detention Campus in Lusk, Co Dublin, where is also serving a sentence for another offence.
Speaking in court, Sergeant Shane Graham said that in a car theft at O'Brien's Park, Clare Street, Limerick on July 2024, three youths had forced the driver's door open with a crowbar, before driving off, according to reports in the Irish Independent.
The Garda Sergeant said that they had hoods up and a zipped hood to cover their faces, but that Gardaí were able to make a positive identification "from open source social media".
He went on to say that during Garda interviews, the accused made several admissions.
Other car offences in Limerick include one which saw a car being stolen from the underground at University Hospital Limerick's car park, with the accused being identified via CCTV, while his DNA also matched a blood sample taken from the vehicle.
He also stole a car at Grove Island Student Accommodation, Corbally, Limerick in October 2024.
Sgt Graham also told the court that the boy was identified from open source social media, CCTV and his DNA, for various car offences at Patrick Street, Clarecastle, Clare in September 2024.
The boy has pleaded guilty to other offences, including the unlawful taking of a vehicle from Woodview Service, Station, Mitchelstown Road, Cahir, Co Tipperary on 1 December 2024, as well as the theft of petrol at the same location and date, valued at €25.96.
He also pleaded guilty to stealing a silver Toyota Aqua from the car park at Tesco, Francis Street, Ennis, on February 8, 2025, after a witness took a photo of him at the scene, according to Sgt Graham.
In court, the judge overruled a recommendation by the Director of Public Prosecutions for the youth to face trial by indictment in the circuit court.
His solicitor, Daragh Hassett, told his client that a report would be prepared in Oberstown for the sentencing hearing. He will be remanded in custody for sentencing on September 23.
