Boy (16) working for ‘Fagin-like’ criminal carried out attacks on houses and torched cars in drug intimidation campaign, court told

A youth, who was 16 at the time of the offenses and is now 17, has pleaded guilty at Mullingar Circuit Criminal Court to charges of criminal damage and arson. The court heard that the teenager carried out a series of attacks in 2025, targeting seven properties by smashing windows and torching vehicles as part of a drug-related intimidation campaign.

Legal proceedings revealed that the youth was acting under the direction of an adult criminal figure. The case highlights the use of minors by organized criminal elements to conduct intimidation tactics on behalf of drug networks.