A 15-year-old boy who abducted a healthcare worker at knife-point at a centre for troubled youths in Limerick appeared in court yesterday.
The teenager - who cannot be named for legal reasons - appeared before Limerick District Court charged with assaulting a female member of staff at Coovagh House, Mulgrave Street, Limerick on December 8th.
He is also charged with false imprisonment contrary to section 15 of the Non Fatal Offences Against the Persons Act on the same date. Judge Elizabeth McGrath assigned solicitor Eileen Whelan to represent the boy.
He was remanded in custody to Trinity House until this afternoon when he is due before the Children's Court in Limerick.
The youth was arrested in Co Kildare shortly after midnight on Saturday after he had forced a staff member at Coovagh House to drive him to Dublin at knife-point.
Garda stations from Limerick to Dublin were alerted and the car in which the youth was travelling was finally intercepted at Ballymany, Newbridge, Co Kildare, by gardaí from Portlaoise who were assisted by the Garda air support unit. In a statement yesterday, the HSE said it was "legally precluded from commenting on Saturday's incident", but confirmed that a full investigation was under way.
Situated on the grounds of St Joseph's psychiatric hospital in Limerick, Coovagh House is a special care unit for troubled youngsters who are already in the care of the State but who have been sent there by special order of the High Court.