A 14-year-old schoolgirl told a High Court judge yesterday "you have cotton wool in your head" after he made an order restraining any further contact between the girl and a 29-year-old man.
The girl had pleaded with the judge to be allowed see the man who she said she loved. The man is a former drug addict and father of a nine-year-old boy.
However, after considering the matter, Mr Justice Kelly said he would grant the girl's mother an interlocutory injunction restraining the man from having any contact with the girl.
He added this was not a final order and the matter could be reviewed.
On Monday, the girl told the judge she was willing to have supervised meetings with the man. They could meet once a week, could sit in separate chairs and would not hold hands. The man told the court he had been a drug addict but had not come before the courts for four years and had been receiving treatment for over three years.
He was going to school and intended doing his Leaving Certificate. He had met the girl four months ago.
Yesterday, Mr Cormac Corrigan SC, for the mother, said she had considered her daughter's request for supervised visits or to be allowed exchange text messages with the man.
However, the mother did not see how that would benefit her daughter. The girl was awaiting counselling in another matter.
The mother believed her daughter's relationship with this man was unhealthy, counsel said. She had no animosity towards the man and acknowledged that he was trying to put his life together again. However, her daughter was going through a traumatic period. A report from a clinical psychologist found the girl was confused and vulnerable. Mr Justice Kelly said he believed the mother was correct in not seeing any benefit for the girl from a continuing relationship with the man.
The girl then asked how long would she have to wait to see the man again. Mr Justice Kelly said she could not see him for as long as the order remained. The girl ran from the court shouting: "You have cotton wool in your head."
Mr Justice Kelly said it seemed counsel might have to take "other steps" as the girl was in a disturbed state. The health board might have to intervene. The girl was not in a position to make decisions for herself.
Addressing the man he said: "I think your influence should disappear out of her life." The man said he would sign anything the court wished. Mr Justice Kelly said that was not necessary but the man was to have no association with the girl.