The State and a health board admitted in the High Court yesterday they had no alternative place for a 15-year-old boy apart from St Patrick's Institution, where the boy has been for more than a month. Ms Nuala Egan, for the boy, said it had long been recommended that he required structured residential intervention but had never received it.
Ms Egan said the boy's behaviour had deteriorated in the past year and a number of criminal charges were dealt with last month. The boy was sentenced to a year's detention at Oberstown Boys' Centre but no place was available.
In those circumstances, the boy spent some days in a Garda station and was later sent, by order of Mr Justice Kelly, to St Patrick's on December 18th because there was no alternative. Mr Justice Kelly asked counsel for the State and health board what they were proposing for this child. Both said they had no alternative place available and their application in those circumstances was for the boy to remain in St Patrick's.
Ms Nuala Butler, for the State, said she was mindful that although the boy was now below the age limit for St Patrick's he would be 16 next week.
The judge said he would adjourn the case to Friday when he wanted to hear evidence as to when places might be available at the two State remand centres - Trinity House and Oberstown Boys' Centre. In the meantime, the boy would have to remain at St Patrick's.