A teenage boy who has been at the centre of a crisis over detention places for juveniles for the last two months, was sentenced to two years' detention yesterday.
The Children's Court heard the 15-year-old, who cannot be named, admitted to breaking out of Oberstown Centre in Lusk, Co Dublin, and stealing the keys of the institution which he used to lock up staff on October 13th.
He also pleaded guilty to another 23 charges, including interfering with a car, criminal damage, trespass, possession of a house breaking implement and failing to turn up in court.
Judge Michael Connellan imposed the two years' detention on all charges, including the Oberstown escape.
In early September, when he was already facing 55 charges, the youth had to be held overnight in a Garda station because of the lack of remand places available at Oberstown.
That month he was sentenced to two years detention in his absence on a small number of charges and was later picked up, but there was no place available for a sentenced person although there was for someone on remand.
Last week, he contacted gardai and was again arrested.