Gardaí were directed by the High Court yesterday to urgently search for an extremely disturbed girl, described by her mother as "totally deranged", who has been missing from health board care for some two weeks.
The girl's mother told Mr Justice Kearns she believed her 17-year-old daughter was in Dublin city and, if she had help from gardaí, she believed she could find her.
She said the girl had shaved off all her hair, was "totally deranged" and had been seen with a homeless man in his 40s around Dublin city-centre quays.
The judge asked the mother if she believed it would be helpful for the media to feature a photograph of the girl in an effort to find her. The mother said she did not believe that would be helpful.
The judge said he would direct that gardaí search for the girl immediately and take her mother in a patrol car around the city in an effort to find her.
There was hope late yesterday evening that the girl would be located after indications she had been spotted in the city-centre.
Earlier, Ms Grainne Mullan, for the girl, said she had been missing from a health board residential unit since March 16th and everyone was very concerned for her and the dangers she was facing.
There had been a meeting this week of the Northern Area Health Board, in whose care the girl has been since July last, and gardaí to discuss what action to take.
Ms Carmel Stewart, for the NAHB, said it was in daily contact with gardaí and every effort was being made to find the girl.
When the girl's case was mentioned to the judge earlier this week, he was told there was concern she may not be taking medication prescribed for her.
Last year, the girl spent 12 weeks in Mountjoy Women's Prison in the absence of any suitable place for her. She was later placed in an adult psychiatric hospital, having been described as "psychotic".
Lawyers for the girl went to the High Court last July seeking to get the NAHB to apply for an emergency care order for her. She had been seen in areas of Dublin days earlier looking thin and dirty, with clothes covered in blood and urine.
She was described as "extremely high risk", with a history of drug misuse and suspected involvement in prostitution.
The girl had been in the voluntary care of the board for periods since July 2001. On July 17th last year gardaí, concerned for her welfare, detained her in Kevin Street Garda station under the Child Care Act.
On July 19th, lawyers asked the High Court to direct the NAHB to seek an emergency care order for her.
Counsel for the board told that hearing that social workers had been working around the clock trying to find a solution to the girl's plight but there was no appropriate place for her.
The board could make no application to the court as it had no place for the girl, counsel added.
Later on July 19th, Mr Gerry Durcan SC, for the girl, secured an order directing the gardaí to deliver the girl to the NAHB. The board later secured an emergency care order for her.