Trafficked teen released into care of HSE
A Vietnamese unaccompanied minor brought to Ireland by Chinese human traffickers for illegal labour, has been released into the care of the HSE.
The teenage boy, believed to be aged 16, is in Ireland without parents and has no passport, the Children’s Court has heard.
He had been on remand in St Patrick’s Institution since June 3 following his arrest for a burglary at Galtimore Road, in Drimnagh, Dublin, on June 2 and failing to produce identity documents within seven days of arriving in the State, under the Immigration Act.
Gardaí had objected to bail pending efforts to confirm the teenager’s identity.
Judge Clare Leonard heard today that the DPP’s directions in the case were still awaited in the case.
Pleading for bail, defence solicitor Sarah Molloy said the boy would be able to live in a special HSE run hostel for unaccompanied minors with support from care workers, if he was released from custody.
Judge Leonard acceded and ordered the teen to reside at the hostel, to sign on three times a week at the nearest Garda station and to obey a curfew from 10pm to 8am. He was remanded to appear again in September.
Samples of his fingerprints have been sent to the Vietnamese embassy in London in the hope it can shed light on his identity.
Ruhama the voluntary agencies which works with people trafficked to Ireland for sexual exploitation believed he was trafficked to Ireland “specifically for illegal labour,” Ms Molloy had said.
The court has heard he left Vietnam with his parents in early childhood; travelled to Russia and several other European states before arriving in Ireland, in April, after “money changed hands” with an “agent.”
Interpol has been contacted to find out if he is on its missing children’s list but that enquiry has “turnedup blank.”
The boy was brought here by Chinese nationals who had previously moved him around Europe to work illegally.
Ms Molloy had also submitted that the teenager’s birth may not have been registered in Vietnam and the Garda enquiries may not lead to a verification of his identity.
The boy’s silence over how he came to be in Ireland was a result of being in fear and it is believed he was “a victim of human trafficking.”
The defendant who was dressed in a grey hooded top, blue jeans and runners, spoke briefly via an interpreter to confirm he understood the bail terms.
Two weeks ago a group of people arrived at the courthouse claiming to be the boy’s family. However, they left immediately when gardaí tried to question them about their relationship to the boy. And the court has heard that a Garda station in Dublin has been receiving suspicious phone calls from people making enquiries about him.
Garda Darren Coller had said: “He says he was brought in by an agent I am concerned may be using him for other purposes. I have a fear that if he does get out harm will come to him.”
The court had also heard that while he was in custody the teenager has been subjected to bullying by other in-mates.
