A Dublin boy said to be "totally out of control" was returned to a remand centre by a High Court judge yesterday because there is no other suitable accommodation for him.
The boy was due for release from the centre yesterday but Ms Justice Laffoy made an order that he continue to be detained there until further notice.
She also granted leave to seek orders directing the State to provide suitable accommodation for the child and returned the matter to Monday next.
Counsel for the boy, Mr John Hanlon, said the child's mother was dead and he had been living with his aunt and elderly grandmother up to recently.
But the boy had threatened his grandmother, robbed her of her pension and had used some of the phone money to purchase hash.
In an affidavit, Mr Pol O Murchu, solicitor for the boy, said the District Court had appointed a psychologist to act as his guardian. The child was at risk and currently had no safe place of accommodation.