Boy (14) in hospital after heroin cocktail

A 14-year-old boy in care could not come to court to face a theft charge yesterday because he had been hospitalised after taking…

A 14-year-old boy in care could not come to court to face a theft charge yesterday because he had been hospitalised after taking a cocktail of heroin and alcohol.

The boy made his first appearance at the Children’s Court last month and made no reply when charged with stealing a television, a torch, a sea fishing rod and a portable heater from a vessel at Malahide Marina, in north Dublin, on June 28th last.

The boy has been in voluntary care since February, and last month his lawyer told the court the HSE had concerns about their ability to keep him safe. There had been a number of applications to place the youth in a secure childcare facility but they were turned down, defence solicitor Gareth Noble had told the court on June 29th.

The youth, who has been living in a residential care home, had been granted bail with a number of conditions. Yesterday when he was due back in court, Judge Ann Ryan heard he could not come because he had been hospitalised on Thursday night. Judge Ryan adjourned the case until August.