A High Court judge has directed gardaí to search for a very troubled boy -said to be suicidal, at serious risk, with a history of heroin addiction and with no family supports - who escaped some days ago from an insecure care centre.
Mr Justice O'Neill heard the 16-year-old lost his siblings to heroin addiction and "a chaotic lifestyle". His parents, as a result of significant alcohol addiction and other problems, were unable to function as parents, it was stated.
The judge was also told that Trinity House, a State detention centre, would only reluctantly take the boy, who has no criminal convictions, for a short period over Christmas because staff consider the centre unsuitable to his needs. No suitable alternative was immediately available, it was said.
Granting an order directing the Garda Commissioner to search for the boy and, if found, to bring him to Trinity House, the judge said he expected the South Western Area Health Board to seek a more suitable placement for the boy. The court was told that a meeting on January 9th of childcare professionals would discuss the boy's situation. It would be attended by a representative of the special care unit at Ballydowd, Lucan, Co Dublin.
Earlier, counsel for the boy said the situation was urgent.
The boy had been in Trinity House for several months to November last and did well there. He was then moved to an insecure facility but that placement broke down. He absconded from there last Sunday and was taken to Trinity House but was not admitted. He was then brought to the insecure centre. The following day, Trinity House had said they would take him but he had absconded in the interim.
As well as being at risk from drugs, the boy had indicated a wish to take his own life and was at very serious risk, counsel said.