A judge has given child welfare agencies two days to find “proper accommodation” for a 16-year-old boy who came back to Dublin to live after his parents left the country more than a year ago.

The Irish-born youth, who is still a minor, had first appeared at the Children’s Court last last week where Judge John O’Connor, then presiding, had said it was “very worrying why a 16-year-old is with a 30-year-old in Dublin”.

The teenager was in court following his arrest last Wednesday for criminal damage to security tags on a pair of runners and tracksuit bottom worth €104.

It had already emerged that he had been born in Ireland and lived here until 2012, when his family left the country to return to their homeland. His parents remain there but the boy returned to Ireland in recent months and is supported by another man in his 30s, who also provides him with occasional work, and they are both living in a hostel.

The teenager had been granted bail and appeared again at the juvenile court again yesterday accompanied by the man, a foreign national who did not have to give evidence other than confirm his name, that he understood English and that he had been getting work for the boy.

'Phone is turned off'
Shane Reynolds, solicitor for the Child and

Family Agency (CFA), the state body responsible for minors’ welfare issues, told Judge Conal Gibbons that last Friday social workers asked the teenager to come to a meeting and to bring his identity documents. After that, social workers heard nothing more, the teen’s “phone is turned off and he has not been in contacts since”.

Defence solicitor Gareth Noble also said that it is possible the court prosecution could be dropped. This means gardaí could handle the case through their Juvenile Liaison Office, which can lead to a caution being given rather than a criminal conviction and a possible sentence.

The teenager had explained to the judge that he had been born in Ireland and schooled here until 2012. He returned in recent months and he again maintained he has been staying with friends or in hostels.

The teen, dressed in jeans, trainers and a designer jacket, also told the court he met the man he is staying with through his religious community. The judge adjourned the case for two days, saying: “I expect the CFA to get appropriate accommodation for this chap.”

He also said the teen needed proper accommodation and he wanted a social worker assigned to the teenager. He said it was not in the power of the Children’s Court to deny bail due to welfare concerns.

As a condition of bail the boy must report to a Garda station in Dublin city centre, sign on there and co-operate with social services.

The court has heard information he gave about where he had lived and had gone to school before his parents left Ireland has been verified.