THE mother of a 10 year old boy who was "running amok" in the Tallaght, Co Dublin, area, yesterday was granted High Court permission to look for an order directing the Minister for Education to provide appropriate residential education for the boy.
Mr John Hanlon, counsel for the mother, read an affidavit from her which said the boy's father left the family home in January 1992, leaving her, her three daughters and her son devastated.
The mother said she found it extremely difficult to control the boy and had met child psychologists. Since the boy was eight he had been staying out at night, smoking cigarettes and drinking alcohol. He had not been in school since his expulsion in 1996 and continued to be a major disruptive force at home.
Last year petrol was thrown over him. He had been burned badly and needed two skin grafts.
The mother said she had "grounded him", slapped him, asked her local Dail deputy for help, and despite her best efforts, had failed to get appropriate residential education.
She and her family had become very disillusioned with the way her son had been treated and were very worried about his future. Her solicitor, Mr Pol O Murchu, had received no positive response to letters written to the Minister for Education.
Miss Justice Laffoy gave permission to the mother to seek a judicial review and to seek an order directing the Minister to provide appropriate education in a suitable residential establishment.