High Court told whereabouts of at-risk teenage boy are unknown

A teenage boy described as a very serious risk to himself and others has been at large for months with his whereabouts unknown, the High Court heard yesterday.

Ms Grainne Mullan, for the 15-year-old, said a social worker with the Northern Area Health Board who had been working with the boy had told the Children's Court he had fallen out of contact with the board and it had no knowledge where he was.

The boy's father had told the board he suspected the boy was living in a squat. "Nobody knows where he is," counsel said.

She said the judge presiding at the Children's Court had recommended the boy's solicitor take High Court proceedings to vindicate the boy's constitutional rights to appropriate accommodation and care.

These proceedings had been initiated and it was being argued the board had failed in its duty to provide for the boy.

Counsel added that some referrals of the boy to health board services had been made and the boy could and had availed in the past of out-of-hours services provided by the board but this was a "haphazard" basis for his care and entirely unsuitable. The boy had attended Children's Court hearings in the past and it was hoped he would attend another due to take place today. Mr Francis Griffin asked that the matter be adjourned for a week to allow the processing of referrals to board services. He said places had been available for the boy last March but he was unwilling to take these.

Ms Mullan said she was prepared to consent to a week's adjournment if progress was made. She did not want to see the matter "shelved".

Mr Justice Lavan said this was the High Court and the matter would not be "shelved". This boy was 15, living rough and exposed to drugs, and there had been no contact with him for weeks.

It was not known where he was sleeping.

He was at serious risk. There were no beds available in secure units.

The judge said he would adjourn the matter for a week and hoped some interim arrangement could be made.