TWO YOUTHS HAVE been charged with false imprisonment of a teenage girl in Dublin.

The boys, both aged 17, were arrested last week following the alleged incident in north Dublin last Thursday. A judge was forced to call a recess during a hearing yesterday when one of their mothers began screaming and threw herself onto a courtroom floor.

They were arrested and held in garda custody before they made a court appearance at the weekend. Bail was granted to one boy due to a shortage of detention spaces, however his co-defendant was remanded in custody.

The two teens, who cannot be named because they are minors, faced their second hearing yesterday when they were brought to appear before Judge John O’Connor at the Dublin Children’s Court.

The court heard the girl now wants to withdraw her complaint, however in the public interest the DPP wants the case to proceed.

The youth, who has been denied bail, has an address in a London suburb. He was further remanded in custody to appear again in two weeks. His mother has come over from the UK and listened to the proceedings with the assistance of an interpreter.

She began howling and wailing during the proceedings and flung herself onto her knees as her son was further remanded in custody. Her cries could be heard outside the courtroom and the judge left the bench after she threw herself onto the floor.

She was then escorted out of the courtroom and waited outside for a number of minutes where she lay on the floor screaming.

His co-defendant who is on bail has an address in Ireland and was ordered to appear again in four weeks. He appeared in court with his father who also required an interpreter.

Neither youth has indicated how they will plead and their trial venue has not yet been decided.

The Children’s Court has the power to accept jurisdiction for serious cases by taking into consideration the age and level of maturity of the accused as well as any other relevant information.