A 15-year-old boy who attacked a garda after he stopped him from visiting a prostitute has been put into a detention centre for his own safety.
The Dublin Children's Court had heard that the boy associated with prostitutes, was in debt to drug dealers, sold drugs at school and was known to have been carrying a knife.
Defence solicitor Ms Michelle Finan described the boy as being "confused", and said he needed help. He "needs to be taken out of the locality where he has been living".
The boy was supported in court yesterday by his mother, and has agreed to be placed in custody for the assessment.
A welfare report from a probation officer was also negative, the judge was told.
Judge William Early yesterday ordered that the schoolboy be given a psychological assessment in a detention centre.
However, a week might not be long enough for the teenager to receive the help he needs, he said.
Ms Finan said the week in custody would allow time to "get the train in motion".
"It would be safer," she added.
The attack on the garda happened last July.
The boy had been caught outdoors at 3.30 a.m. on his way to Leeson Street in search of a prostitute, the court had been told earlier.
Det Garda Richard Hampson had told the court that when he asked the young boy where he was going, he replied that he was "going to Leeson Street to seek a prostitute".
It was then decided that the teenager should be taken back to his home for his own safety.
At that stage the boy was not under arrest but as the Garda car neared his home he became extremely aggressive and started to struggle.
His violent behaviour continued and he kicked the detective repeatedly leaving him with bruising on his legs.
The boy has no previous convictions.
The court had heard that his mother was extremely worried about him.
Despite having achieved good results in his exams, his non-attendance at school had become a concern.
The boy was sometimes nervous, had difficulty in controlling his temper and lacked a male role model in his home, the court had also heard.