A REPORT on the trouble caused by a Laois juvenile at a Scottish assessment centre would be sent to the Minister for Justice, Judge Mary Martin said yesterday at Portlaoise District Court.
As she sentenced the 17 year old to 24 months in St Patrick's Institution Judge Martin added: "This is not the best place for you but I am doing what I have to do. I don't have a choice."
The judge requested that he get medical, psychological and psychiatric help. The youth was sentenced to six months' detention for having with him part of a hedge clippers, which included a blade, on April 1st. He was sentenced to a further six months for damaging a car to the amount of £750, the property of Tony Flanagan, Blueball, Tullamore, on March 16th.
The judge said: "For 13 months I have been stringing you along. I have involved all the agencies. We have tried everything. We have listened to you over and over again and did everything possible to give you proper facilities."
She said she was "absolutely appalled, embarrassed and disgusted" to read a 1 page report from the centre in Scotland.
"It's the most appalling detail I have ever heard anyone do over 30 days. You did everything possible to destroy yourself. You are at the end of the road as far as I am concerned. I did my best and tried absolutely everything. I should have taken the simple option of putting you away every time, said Judge Martin.
Apologising to the director of the Marthrown of Mabie Assessment Centre in Dumfries, Scotland, Mr Jeff Evans, the judge said she would not have exported the problem if she had known what would happen. "You came in touch with innocent people," she told the youth.
Mr Evans said the centre had not closed the door on the youth but the bottom line was that they needed some sanction to keep him there.
Judge Martin said she did not have those powers. "I am appalled to read of the disruption he caused, but unfortunately I cannot put him in your custody."
Mr Evans maintained that the best solution was to have the juvenile dealt with in this country where he had access to his parents.
Mr Tom O'Grady, defending solicitor, said the youth had the hedge clippers as a form of protection because people had threatened him.
Judge Martin said she would be sending a very strongly worded letter to the Minister about the youth, asking why the system had failed him.