' We didn't raise a scumbag . . . but that's what he's turning into'. Carl O'Brien reports.
The mother stood up at the back of the courtroom, holding a cardboard file in her hands, as tears trickled down her cheeks.
"This goes back to when he was in third class," she said to the judge. "I've been to a psychiatrist, counsellors, and now you. And now you're going to release him onto the streets. That's what I've been trying to avoid all my life."
The mother was in court to plead that her 16-year-old son, who was appearing in court on theft charges, be remanded in custody because she couldn't control him at home.
He kept running away from home, rowing with his father and getting involved in trouble while on the street, she said.
The boy, meanwhile, sat quietly with his arms folded, his small dark eyes avoiding any contact with his parents.
Judge Catherine Murphy, who adjourned the case for several hours to consider the matter, said an out-of-hours hostel appeared to be the only solution.
If he misbehaved he would be placed back in custody, she said. But if he behaved properly, he could reside in Lion's Villa, a supervised probation centre for young people.
"Judge," the mother interrupted. "Why are you releasing him onto the streets?"
"I accept it's not an option to send him home," the judge said sympathetically. "I'm releasing him on condition that he sign on at the Garda station every evening at 5 p.m."
"But that's the street, Judge," the mother said, wiping her eyes.
"I'm giving him an opportunity to access an out-of-hours service on very strict conditions. I know this is a a very difficult situation."
"But if he's found dead on the street, who takes responsibility?"
"If there are fresh charges against him, he will go straight back into custody . . . I don't believe now that it is right to sentence him to a term of imprisonment," Judge Murphy said. "We didn't rear a scumbag, Judge, but that's what he's turning into," the mother said.
"You have to give someone an opportunity to change their ways."
"But how may opportunities do you get?"
"You get a certain amount, but it's not limitless," the judge answered. "I accept it's not an ideal solution."
The boy, who had appeared in court on several occasions in recent weeks, had been silent for most of the time.
His solicitor, Ms Eilish McCabe, said he was anxious to leave St Patrick's Institution. He had a black eye from one incident, she said, and was extremely anxious to leave the institution.
The boy nodded his head eagerly, looking to the judge for her reaction.
It was only when the judge began to enquire why exactly the boy could not stay at home that he suddenly became animated.
"The reason I left home is because my Dad assaulted me three times," the boy said, his eyes fixed on the judge.
"He gave me a clatter in the back of the head, punched me in the face and gave a dig in the stomach."
"As you can see, obviously we can't be under the same roof," the father said from the back of the court, twisting a tissue in his hand.
"So you're not denying this?" the judge said in an alarmed voice. "The judge on the previous occasion said there was not to be any physical chastisement of your son."
"Yes," the father said, looking at the ground.
Judge Murphy later returned to the matter of family relations, urging the boy to contact the family while away from home.
"I'll ring my Ma every day to let her know that I'm okay," the boy said.
"Would you like that?" the judge said, turning to the mother.
"Yes," she said softly.
The judge turned back to the boy and spoke sympathetically to him.
"Don't let those differences between you and your father go on forever. It's not worth it," she said.
The boy nodded his head, not looking at his parents.
"If the three of you can come together, without conflict and upsetting each other, then I say what are you wasting your time for?"
The father began to comfort his wife as the judge spoke, while the boy kept staring at the ground.
"Hopefully there will be some small improvement by then. Think what it would be like for you if you had children" she said. "Just try and make it work, will you?"
He nodded his head, signed the bail bond, and walked out alone into Smithfield Square.
"I hope things work out," the judge said to herself, as he left the courtroom.
The Children's Court series will resume on an occasional basis.