The judge who accused Oberstown detention and education centre for troubled teenagers of incompetence yesterday said its failure to provide detailed reports on juvenile offenders to courts was unfair to the communities who had to live with the youths.

A teenage burglar, who held a woman up in her house and threatened to stab her, has been given a 20-month sentence, by Judge Angela Ní Chonduin, at the Dublin Children’s Court.

A Juvenile detention centre which has just 30 places was yesterday forced to close down an entire wing so an out-of-control boy could be held there, a court heard today.