A 15-year-old boy charged with working as a prostitute has given a sworn undertaking to remain indoors at a residential care home every night after a court heard that his going out at night had caused fears for his safety.
The Dublin Children's Court heard that the homeless boy, who was charged last May with solicitation contrary to the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Act 1993, had continued to go out late at night after he had been ordered to obey a curfew.
Since last May he has been at a residential care home pending a High Court action to determine his constitutional rights to a placement in a secure and suitable residential unit. The young boy has no parental supervision and it was necessary to get him out of his native area to stop him from engaging in such activities, the court heard.
Earlier he had gone missing from the residential care home for 10 days and nobody knew where he was. It had already been revealed that he had engaged in prostitution with a male on at least one occasion.
The boy later gave a sworn undertaking in court that he understood that he had to abide by several bail conditions which stated that he had to obey a nightly curfew and not leave the care unit without permission from staff.
However, Judge John O'Neill was told yesterday that the boy had continued to stay out at night which caused serious concerns for him. His guardian, who had been appointed by the High Court, said there were fears for the boy's safety due to his failure to obey his curfew.
The guardian said he believed that if boy made another sworn undertaking that he would not break his bail again, he would then understand the seriousness of the situation.
The boy undertook that he would abide by the bail conditions and that he understood that any breaches could result in him being held in custody.
Judge O'Neill adjourned the case until after the High Court decides on where the boy should be sent.