Case No. 1408Burglary · Co. Dublin · 18 Aug 2023
Teenager pleads guilty to burglary of sensory room at River Valley Community Centre, Swords
A 15-year-old schoolboy pleaded guilty at Dublin Children's Court to burglary of the River Valley Community Centre in Swords, where a newly installed sensory room for children with autism was destroyed on 18 August 2023, causing €12,178 in damage. Sentencing was adjourned pending a pre-sanction report, while three other boys involved were diverted through the Garda Youth Diversion Programme.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrestednot reported
- Chargednot reported
- In court1 Jul
- Convicted1 Jul
- Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet
Key facts
consolidated from all reports22 statements extracted from the articles
- whatCharlotte Farrell-Quin sought permission to exhume her father's remains from Deansgrange Cemetery in November 2024. (irishtimes.com)
- whatCharlotte Farrell-Quin is one of five living children of Gerard Farrell. (irishtimes.com)
- whatA newly installed sensory room for children with autism was destroyed. (irishtimes.com)
- whatFour youths were at the centre when gardaí arrived at 9.40pm and found a door had been opened. (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe damage to the sensory room cost €12,178 to repair. (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe room was due to be unveiled the following week but the event had to be delayed. (irishtimes.com)
- whereThe remains were reinterred at a cemetery in Ashford, Co Wicklow, where Charlotte Farrell-Quin resides. (irishtimes.com)
- wherePaschal Farrell lives in Millers Wood, Bray, Co Wicklow. (irishtimes.com)
- whereGerard Farrell was initially buried at a family plot in Deansgrange Cemetery. (irishtimes.com)
- whereThe burglary occurred at the River Valley Community Centre in Swords. (irishtimes.com)
- whenGerard Farrell died in August 2009, aged 77. (irishtimes.com)
- whenThe centre was ransacked on 18 August 2023. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationCCTV evidence from the building led to the identification of the accused, then aged 13, and three other boys. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationThere was no CCTV footage from inside the sensory room. (irishtimes.com)
- chargeThe 15-year-old pleaded guilty to burglary. (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe case was adjourned to next month with a possible hearing date in December or January. (irishtimes.com)
- courtMs Justice Mary Rose Gearty is presiding over the judicial review. (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe boy was remanded on bail to appear again later that month and referred to the Probation Service for a pre-sentence report. (irishtimes.com)
- otherAt least three generations of Gerard Farrell's family are interred at the family plot. (irishtimes.com)
- otherThe three other boys were found eligible for the Garda Youth Diversion Programme and avoided prosecution. (irishtimes.com)
- otherThe defendant was not suitable for the diversion programme and was charged instead. (irishtimes.com)
- otherThe boy was still in school and engaging with a social care services provider in Dublin. (irishtimes.com)
The reporting
newest first- 1 Jul2025Sensory room for children with autism destroyed a week before unveiling, court hears
Court hearing at Dublin Children's Court where the 15-year-old pleaded guilty; sentencing adjourned for pre-sanction report; three co-accused boys diverted; DPP recommended Children's Court jurisdiction.
accused, 15, malesuspect, malesuspect, malesuspect, male - 1 Jul2025Siblings unaware of council application to exhume father’s remains, court hears
First report of the judicial review; Ms Justice Gearty adjourned the case to next month, noting a hearing date may be assigned in December or January.
victim, Gerard Farrell, 77, male, irish (judged from name)Gerard Farrellsuspect, Charlotte Farrell-Quin, female, named, irish (judged from name)Charlotte Farrell-Quinvictim, Paschal Farrell, male, irish (judged from name)Paschal Farrell