Published: Wednesday, 3rd March, 2010 5:00pm

Teen was in stolen car

A 19-year-old Meath man who allowed himself to be carried in a stolen car was fined €300 when he pleaded guilty to the offence at Bailieboro District Court sitting in Virginia.

Kevin Sheridan, 13 Muff Crescent, Nobber, was also disqualified from driving for one year.

He was charged that on February 17, 2009, he allowed himself to be carried in the car, the property of Deborah Reilly without her consent.

Inspector Fintan McTiernan said Ms Reilly parked her car outside her house in Church Street, Kingscourt and when she woke the next morning it was gone. She got in touch with her husband just in case he had taken it with him to work but he hadn't. Ms Reilly reported the matter to the gardaí, who searched the area around Nobber and Kilmainhamwood and the car was found burnt out.

An independent witness saw the defendant and a juvenile on the road in the area on the night on question. When he was interviewed he admitted his involvement. He had no previous convictions.

Defending solicitor Mr. Damien Rudden said his client had left school when he was 15. He had worked as a storeman but was unemployed for the last 12 months. He and a friend were out and came across the car. They had an argument over the car and his client didn't to have an hand, act or part in the taking of it, said Mr. Rudden.

Mr. Sheridan started to walk home and as he was doing so the other individual pulled up in the car and asked him if he wanted a lift home and he took it. He should not have done.

Judge Sean MacBride said while the defendant not the main culprit he should not have done what he did.

Initially he refused to have anything to do with the taking of the vehicle and he should have kept it that way, he said.