Vulnerable boy to move to State centre as suitable place is sought

A vulnerable boy with a mild mental handicap is to be moved from St Patrick's Institution to a State assessment centre while a health board seeks a suitable place for him. However, there is no indication of when an appropriate place will be available.

In the High Court yesterday Mr Justice O'Donovan said he wanted it on record that this child should not go back to St Patrick's under any circumstances. It also emerged that the South-Western Area Health Board had modified a rule under which it would not recruit agency staff to look after children in its care where those children were in units not run by the board.

The boy, who marked his 15th birthday during six weeks' detention in St Patrick's, has no criminal convictions, and it was said his situation deteriorated while there.

Because of his age, he could not mix with other inmates and was detained alone in a basement. A psychiatrist said the boy had voiced thoughts of suicide. He is from a dysfunctional home, and Mr Justice Kelly last month said animals received better attention than the boy and his siblings.

The boy sustained serious brain injuries after a crash following a car theft and is regarded as a danger to himself and others. He was sent to St Patrick's in the absence of another secure place.

Yesterday the court heard that all the professionals involved with the child's care believed he should be placed in Ballydowd Special Care Unit. An emergency meeting of the unit's admissions committee is to be held with a view to putting the boy on the waiting list. However, there is no indication when a place will be available.

The case was adjourned to August 13th. The board undertook to devise contingency plans if a place in Ballydowd was not available.