by Andrew Carey

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A SIXTEEN-year-old teenager insisted that he be taken into custody at the Oberstown Detention Centre to gain “street credibility”.

The boy, who can not be named for legal reasons, was charged with the theft of a bicycle on St Patrick’s Day, a breach of the Public Order Act in July and a burglary last October.

Appearing before Judge Eugene O’Kelly last week, he asked his solicitor Sarah Ryan not to seek bail and allow him be remanded in custody at the boys detention facility.

He was remanded on the charges and ordered to appear in court a week later.

However at last Monday’s sitting of the court, Ms Ryan said the boy contacted her after just three nights and asked her to seek bail on his behalf. She told Judge O’Kelly that he asked her to get him out as he didn’t want to be there any more.

“There was an element of him trying to gain street credibility by going inside, but that quickly changed”, she added.

Appearing in court a week later, the boy said he would go back to school and obey a curfew and all requirements of his bail.

Judge O’Kelly said he would grant the application for bail after there was no Garda objection.

The case was adjourned until February 18.