A High Court judge has refused to issue an order directing gardai to search for a disturbed girl who escaped from the Central Mental Hospital yesterday. She had been attending an outreach programme.
Mr Justice Kelly said the girl would be 18 next month and, after she had absconded earlier this year, he had warned her he would make no further order in her case if she refused to co-operate with programmes aimed at easing her transition to adult life.
Ms Mary Ellen Ring, for the girl, said the girl has no family and no housing outside the CMH.
Mr Justice Kelly said there was nothing more he could do.
The girl was placed in the CMH last March in the absence of a suitable place for her. She is greatly traumatised following neglect and sexual abuse as a child.