Ennis District Court has heard how a machete-wielding 17 year-old told his Ennis neighbour that he'd kill everyone in the upstairs of a home after gaining entry to the house on a night in July.
The youth – who cannot be named for legal reasons – made the threats as he demanded the keys to his neighbour's car.
The Court heard that the accused's neighbour opened his door at 2.30am on July 21st last after the youth told him from outside the door that he had a problem.
He was armed with a long machete and the father asked the youth not to make any noise as his young son was asleep upstairs.
Insp Tom Kennedy told the court that on hearing this, the youth demanded his car keys or he would "go upstairs and kill everyone" – he then made his escape in the car before crashing it two miles from the house.
Judge Patrick Durcan said he would decline jurisdiction and as a result the case will go forward to the circuit court where far stiffer penalties apply on conviction.
It is one of a number of cases that Judge Durcan refused jurisdiction concerning incidents involving the the youth at his home and neighbours' home at the private estate in Ennis where he lives.
A Book of Evidence will now be prepared and Judge Durcan remanded the teen in continuing detention to Oberstown to re-appear before Ennis District Court on December 16th.
