Derry’s 'most prolific' teen offender released after curfew bail breach
Court told 15-year-old girl girl has breached her bail on numerous occasions including four times in the last 10 weeks
A 15-year-old girl who is said by police to be the most prolific offender in the Derry and Strabane district has appeared at Derry Magistrate's Court today charged with breaching her bail.
The girl who cannot be named due to her age was said to have breached her curfew by not returning to the children's home where she resides on time.
A police officer told the court that at 11.20pm on August 4 the girl was reported to have been banging on the door of an address.
When police arrived the girl had left and the court was told that the defendant had refused to get into a taxi sent by the children's home.
The girl eventually returned home and was arrested and told police she had taken paracetamol and was taken to hospital.
Police objected to bail stating the girl had 26 previous convictions of which 18 were assaults.
The officer also said that the girl had 43 pending files with the Public Prosecution Service and had breached her bail on numerous occasions including four times in the last 10 weeks.
The court was told that the defendant had been released on bail by the High Court on July 15.
The police officer said that the defendant posed a risk of harm to herself and the public.
Defence counsel Grainne McAnaney said her client found it difficult to manage her time especially now during the summer holidays.
The girl was released on bail but her curfew was put back to 9pm.
She will appear again on September 1.