Teen told not to accompany girlfriend for abortion in England
A teenage boy facing a robbery charge was today released on bail with strict conditions and told that he cannot accompany his pregnant 15-year-old girlfriend to England, where she is planning to have an abortion.
The Children’s Court also heard that the 16-year-old boy’s anti-social behaviour in his west Dublin neighbourhood is putting his family at risk of eviction from their council home.
His upset mother told the court that she was prepared to stand bail for her son on condition that he stopped drinking and taking drugs as well as ceasing his troublemaking in her area. This, she added, has resulted in a final warning from the council that she would be evicted.
"I’ll take him if he does what he’s told and stays away from drink and drugs. I’ve got two letters from the council and I got a final warning. He was told to stop hanging around the corner drinking and taking drugs. He would not stop causing trouble. I will be out on the streets," she told Judge Thomas Fitzpatrick.
She said her son had started loitering around in a woman’s garden where he and friends had been drinking and taking drugs. As a result this woman has filed complaints with the South Dublin County Council which has led to the threat of eviction, she explained.
The prosecuting garda told that there was an objection to bail based on concerns that the teenager had indicated that he is planning on travelling to England if released on bail.
The boy said his girlfriend is going to have an abortion and that he had planned on travelling to England with her.
The boy then said: "He [the garda] asked me was I going to England, but I can’t go now. I’ll be in court on the next date," he said, adding that his girlfriend could be accompanied to England by one of her relatives.
"My girlfriend is having an abortion in England. It's where she has to go to have it," the boy said
When asked what her age is, the boy told the judge that she is 15 years old.
"It does not sound good," Judge Fitzpatrick said.
Judge Fitzpatrick consented to grant bail under strict terms warning the teenager that if there were any breaches of the conditions he would be remanded in custody.
"You are not to go to England. Indeed, your girlfriend should not be going to England either," the judge said.
The teenager was also warned that as part of his bail conditions he has to remain indoors at his home from 10pm to 8am, sign on daily at Ronanstown Garda Station and to abstain from alcohol and illicit drugs.
