Court told no secure facility for troubled boy

A troubled boy who was "utterly alone" at the age of 12 required a place in a secure centre with therapeutic facilities. Yet there would be no such place available until Easter at the earliest, the High Court heard yesterday. Even then, there was no guarantee a place would be available at Ballydowd, Co Dublin.

In the meantime, the boy was at St Michael's assessment centre, which was not a secure facility. It was now functioning as a holding centre for children because of the lack of secure places.

Mr Justice Kelly heard the boy required a place in a secure centre with appropriate therapeutic facilities. The only such unit was Ballydowd.

In court yesterday Mr John O'Donnell, for the State, asked Mr Justice Kelly to direct the boy be moved from St Michael's to another unsecure facility next Wednesday.

Mr Barry O'Donnell, for the Northern Area Health Board, said a residential centre for children could take the boy from December 6th.

Ms Grainne Mullan, for the boy, said the unit proposed for him was less secure than St Michael's, and he had a history of absconding.

The judge ordered that the boy should stay at St Michael's until Wednesday. Then he would be moved to the other unit. He would review the case on December 21st.