Troubled teen to be assessed for Sweden placement
An assessment is to take place next week to see if a troubled 14-year-old boy, who set fire to a room with children in it, is to be given a placement in a therapeutic care centre in Sweden, the Dublin Children’s Court heard today.
The teenager, who is facing charges for travelling in a stolen car, assault and a breach of the peace, is being held in custody on remand in detention centre for young criminals because there is presently no suitable care home environment in Ireland in which he could be placed.
His mother cannot manage him due to his problems and there were also fears for his safety in the community if he was released, the court had also heard.
Judge Catherine Murphy was told yesterday that the Health Service Executive (HSE) had arranged for an assessment to take place next week in relation to a placement in the Swedish unit.
She remanded the teenager in custody until a date in November with liberty to re-apply for bail should the situation in relation to the teenager’s accommodation become resolved.
Last week lawyers for the HSE told the court that that there has been considerable social service involvement in the teenager’s life and his case presented difficulties in terms of providing suitable accommodation.
The court was also told that given the history of the case the HSE might not presently be able to keep him safe in the community if bail was granted.
Previously, the court had heard that the boy had set fire to a room with children in it and has been in numerous care facilities since he was aged six.
At the age of nine the health board placed him in a care home in England from which he later absconded, when he was 10-years-old, and ended up on the streets of London, drinking with vagrants.
His mother then brought him back to Ireland where he was put into another care home.
He has also suffered a mental breakdown and been placed on numerous anti-psychotic and depressant medications.
There are also fears for his safety because he had been previously threatened by armed men claiming to be members of the Continuity IRA.
Guns were pointed at his mother and young sisters and he was threatened by the men, the court had heard.
The teenager has been held in Oberstown Boys’ Centre since July pending efforts to have the HSE source a suitable residential and therapeutic care placement for him
