A High Court judge has expressed concern that no secure place is available for an at-risk 14-year-old boy who has a history of absconding and was brought before the court yesterday.
Mr Justice Kelly also noted that correspondence, extending for almost a year, from the boy's solicitors to the Eastern Health Board and the State seeking an appropriate place for the boy had been met only with acknowledgements and with no firm offer of an appropriate place.
The judge was told that no secure place was available. Ms Nuala Butler, for the State, said Trinity House detention centre was full and there would be no vacancy until mid December. Oberstown Boys' Centre also had no vacancy for the rest of this year. Ms Butler said there was a bed in an assessment centre but she could not guarantee the boy would not escape, although every effort would be made to ensure he did not.
Ms Butler accepted it did not meet the boy's needs, but said the Minister was trying to accommodate him in what was available.
Ms Nuala Egan, for the boy, expressed concern that the assessment centre should be made as secure as possible given the boy's history of absconding.