Youth pleads to be released from 'drug culture' in detention centre

A troubled youth who pleaded to be held in St Patrick's Institution for his own safety begged to be released yesterday after …

A troubled youth who pleaded to be held in St Patrick's Institution for his own safety begged to be released yesterday after experiencing the "oppressive drug culture" there.

The 17-year-old youth had been arrested under Section 6 and 19 of the Public Order Act for engaging in threatening, abusive and insulting behaviour and for obstructing a garda in the course of his duty, the Dublin Children's Court had heard.

Last week, evidence was given of his arrest and the nature of the charges against him. Gardaí consented to bail and asked to have the case adjourned.

However, the boy, who has anger management problems, pleaded to be remanded in custody in St Patrick's for his own safety. He had hoped that while in custody he would get the counselling and psychiatric assessment he needed and said he wanted to be detained to "get his head together".

READ MORE

Judge Geoffrey Browne was told yesterday the youth had a change of heart and wanted to be freed. Ms Majella Walsh said that although her client had asked to go to the institution, he had found its pervasive drug culture too oppressive.

When the judge asked the youth if there were more drugs in St Patrick's than out on the streets, the youth said: "They're all round the place." This had caused some concerns because the boy had never taken drugs before and had gone to St Patrick's for his own welfare but was surrounded by them. It was feared that by staying there he might take drugs which would also compound his other problems.

His social worker told Judge Browne that when he found out about the youth's detention he was shocked.

Given his problems, the environment in St Patrick's was not where he should be, the social worker said.

Garda Derek Commisky said there was still no objection to letting the youth out on bail. In light of the fears about drug abuse in the jail and the youth's problems, he agreed he should be allowed home. Judge Browne freed the youth and adjourned the case until a date in January pending a psychiatric assessment and a probation and welfare service report.