An extremely disturbed and violent 14-year-old who is regarded as a serious danger to himself and others was sent to St Patrick's Institution by a High Court judge yesterday.
The boy's mother was at "major risk" of suicide if he was returned home, the court heard.
The order for the detention of the boy in St Patrick's was requested by lawyers representing the boy and his mother and was opposed by lawyers for the State and the Northern Area Health Board who asked that he be detained in Ballydowd Special Care Unit.
Mr Justice Kelly described the position adopted by the State and NAHB as "ludicrous" and "bordering, if not actually trespassing, on the irresponsible".
They were asking him to return the boy to the custom-built unit where the well-being of himself, other children and staff had been jeopardised by his extremely violent behaviour, where he had caused substantial damage to property and where he had derived no therapeutic benefit, the judge said.
His preference was to detain the boy in Trinity House, which was better designed to meet his needs, but there was no place there. He had read reports suggesting 20 other places would be available in St Patrick's for children under the normal age, but had been told since that this was just a proposal. There was no indication when it would be a reality.
:quality(70)/s3.amazonaws.com/arc-authors/irishtimes/7d6f4bef-80c2-4932-9cb4-a7164db31957.png)