A 17-YEAR-OLD youth who caused almost £3,000 worth of damage to a number of cars in Carlow town was sentenced to 24 months detention at the October 11 sitting of Carlow district court.

Paschal Doyle, whose address was given as 40 Staplestown Road, Carlow, was charged with damaging and interfering with a car belonging to Zoe Shannon at The Plots, Rathnapish on September 22 last causing £1,594.15 worth of damage.

Mr Doyle was similarly charged with damaging and interfering with a car belonging to Jim McGrath at St Mary's Park, Carlow on September 22 last causing £864.89 worth of damage. Mr Doyle was also charged with taking control of a vehicle belonging to Thomas Crotty without consent on September 20 last at Staplestown Road.

Mr Doyle was also summonsed with stealing 3 rugs to the value of £50 from the Hadden's shopping centre on July 24, 1999. In this case alone, his co-accused was Bernard Reilly, whose address was given as Staplestown Road, Carlow.

In evidence Trevor Flanagan who was working in Hadden's shopping centre at the time stated that he saw two fellas whom he recognised as the defendants running from the shop with three rugs. He explained that two staff members followed them out to a parked van outside the door of the centre and took the rugs back from them.

Detective Garda Colm Moran told the court that when he went to the Hadden's shopping centre he spoke to the store manager, Mr John Cummins, who identified the two defendants as those who took the rugs.