Teen accused of attacking sick mother allowed home
A 15--year-old boy charged with assaulting his sick mother and stealing her medication has been allowed home on bail after spending four weeks in custody where educational and psychological assessments were carried out.
The boy from north Dublin has been charged at the Children's Court with theft of medication belonging to his mother, whose condition has not been stated, on a date in October.
He was also charged with attacking her on the same date and again on January 4 last.
The young boy, who had been attending a doctor at a north Dublin child and family clinic, also faces charges for attacking his father and his teenage sister at their home last month as well as breach of the peace.
He had been held in custody at the National Remand and Assessment Centre, a juvenile detention in Finglas in Dublin, for the past four weeks for the assessments to be carried out. Last month his mother had told the court she was "finding it very difficult at the moment".
Her son had also breached a bail condition set down earlier compelling him to be of good behaviour in his home.
Defence solicitor Mr Gareth Noble said today that the assessment had resulted in an action plan being drafted to help the boy. He also said the boy, whose mother was present for the case, "was welcome home".
The assessment had resulted in a number of recommendations in relation to the boy's education and what supports he needed and suggested that he should now be allowed home. The teenager had been absent from school from a number of months, the court had heard at an earlier stage.
Judge Ann Ryan said that the assessment report was excellent and that she noted that the teenager had fully co-operated. She remanded him bail to appear again in four weeks and ordered him to obey a 12pm to 7am curfew daily.
She also said that a copy of the assessment report should be furnished to the HSE, which was also represented in court.
Prosecuting Garda Brendan Edery also said that the charges brought against the teenage boy may be dropped.
Social services have been working with the teenager, the court has also heard.
