Ms Amanda Connolly:

Sometimes, when a child is apprehended or suspected of doing an offence, it can take a number of months before they are actually charged with the offence. They may be questioned in relation to it. Regarding a drugs matter, as my colleague referred to, a lot of kids are used as drug mules because they do not have any criminal convictions. They will be asked to carry drugs from A to B because they will not have any problems since they have no convictions and nothing will happen to them. To get a certificate of analysis from the forensic laboratory can take up to nine months or 12 months. If a child is arrested when aged 16, it is conceivable they would be aged 18 by the time they come before the courts. A file might then have to go to the DPP and it may take time for that office to decide whether the case will be dealt with and whether the direction given will be to deal with the matter in the District Court or the Circuit Court.