A 13-year-old girl who has been in health board care since she was a baby is to be placed in a respite unit in Northern Ireland. She was said in recent months to have been abusing drugs and alcohol, and staying out overnight with homeless people.
Ms Mary O'Toole SC, for the health board involved, yesterday confirmed there had been occasions when the child abused alcohol. However, she said there was no evidence for other concerns expressed by the girl's grandmother that the child was abusing drugs and might have been pregnant.
She said the situation was unusual in that the girl had been in health board care since she was a year old. Her foster placement broke down in January 2002. She had since been staying in an open unit run by the board and it was concerned for her welfare.
Before High Court proceedings were taken last Tuesday seeking orders against the board directing it to provide appropriate care and accommodation for her, a case conference had been convened for last Wednesday, counsel added.
The board was hoping it could have the girl placed in a Northern Ireland respite unit for a week, after which it was hoped she would be able to stay in the open unit where she had been placed last January.
Mr Mark de Blacam SC, for the girl, consented to the matter being adjourned to see how the board's proposal would work out. He also asked for an order appointing a guardian to represent the girl's interests.
Mr Justice McKechnie made the order sought and adjourned the case to May 17th.
In an affidavit presented to the judge at the earlier hearing this week, the girl's grandmother said the girl had been with a foster family but that placement broke down when her foster mother began abusing alcohol and taking the girl out on the streets to drink. A subsequent foster placement had also broken down.