The mother of a 17-year-old heroin addict who was taken into secure care on Thursday of last week is “fully supportive” of the development, a court has been told.
Last week Judge John Campbell of the Dublin District Court was told the boy was taking three bags of heroin a day, had been sleeping in a single tent in a disused building with his mother and his teenage girlfriend, and was “dying before the eyes” of the professionals seeking to help him.
Both the High Court and the District Court are being updated weekly on the boy’s care as he approaches his 18th birthday, after which he will no longer be subject to the Child Care Act, which allows for people under that age to be held in secure accommodation.
Judge Campbell, asking that the case come back before him again next week, agreed with counsel Donal Ó Muircheartaigh that the focus the case is receiving in the media may help secure the changes needed before he reaches maturity.
“If everyone is working together, that is the best hope for [the boy’s first name],” the judge said. “It is five minutes to midnight.”
Mr Ó Muircheartaigh is acting for the boy’s court-appointed guardian ad litem, Joanna Seery. The judge was also addressed by solicitors Seona Ní Mhurchú, for the mother, and Anne Leahy, for Tusla, the child and family agency.
The leader of the social work team on the boy’s case updated the court on the difficulties of dealing with him in the context of his detoxification and his feelings about being returned to secure care.
She also told the court about the meetings of those involved in his care, preparations for when he leaves secure accommodation and his positive attitude towards attending a training course when he reaches 18.
The State has beds for 26 children in secure accommodation facilities, but only 15 are available because of staffing issues.
The boy was the subject of a special care order from the High Court in February of last year but, because of the shortage of beds, was not placed until April. He subsequently went through managed withdrawal.
However, he returned to abusing drugs upon his release and was the subject of a second High Court order in October. Again he was not immediately placed in a bed because one was not available. On Thursday of last week he was prioritised over other young people awaiting a secure bed because of the severity of his addiction.
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