Youth remanded in secure unit case

A 17-YEAR-OLD youth arrested for trying to break two girls out of a secure care facility for troubled teens has been remanded…

A 17-YEAR-OLD youth arrested for trying to break two girls out of a secure care facility for troubled teens has been remanded on continuing bail at the Dublin Children’s Court.

The boy was charged earlier this month with trespassing and criminal damage at the Ballydowd Special Care Unit, in west Dublin, on June 28th.

A probation report has also been sought in relation to charges for theft, failing to attend court and breach of the peace, to which he has already pleaded guilty.

Judge Anthony Halpin remanded the boy yesterday to appear again in September for sentencing and ordered a further probation report on the charges, which the boy has admitted, and for which a plea is to be entered in relation to the alleged incident at the unit.

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The boy is residing in a different, non-secure residential children’s home.

The court had heard that gardaí had been called to the special care unit following reports of youths “trying to gain entry”.

The court was told on the previous day the teen and two other youths had also been at the high-support care facility with a ladder and a set of cutters.