MRS A and her husband had three children of their own when they decided to foster two more. The problem arises with a boy now aged 16. "He's into prostitution," she says. "He has loads of money and is in every night with £50-60. We can't keep him in and are getting no help. There is no place available for him unless he does a criminal act.
"There are a couple of homes around Louth, but they are not fit for him. He needs a lock up, that's what they say, but there is no lock up here to help him. The only lock up is for criminals."
Her son has been seen around the Newry bridge getting into cars with men who then drive off.
A 15 year old girl who says she accompanied him in a car a few weeks ago says the man drove them to a forest just outside the town where the boy performed oral sex on him for £20.
Mrs A says that every weekend night is the same and she is convinced that for his own protection her son should be permanently off the streets.
"He has been seen in cars and he has shown us cars he's been in and shown us men he's been with. We know some of the men by their cars ... there are loads of kids at it."
She says she has reported all incidents to the Garda. "The guards know that it's going on in the car ... they have seen them out, got a few number plates, the kinds of cars. Some have been known to the guards before."
One garda says that earlier this week he saw the teenager sitting on the Newry bridge and brought him home. Gardai who see him around the town bring him home even if they are off duty, but his mother says he will not stay in the house.
Last month, he came home with a gold cross on a chain which he said a man had bought for him, further arousing his mother's suspicions.
She says that both her husband and an older son have tried to follow the teenager. "My son follows him and my husband and I sit up all night waiting for him. If he is out till 5 a.m. there is always someone sitting and waiting for him. He always has money on him."
Her main fear is that her son may get further involved in prostitution and risk physical danger or even a violent death. "He needs protection, to be locked up, but I don't want him to become a criminal. He has no friends, only the night ones."