Social worker contacted gardaí in concern for Miss D’s future

A GARDA Superintendent wrote to a HSE social worker last week and told him the gardaí had no power to stop the 17-year-old girl travelling to Britain for an abortion.

In a letter on April 26, the Superintendent said the gardaí are not permitted to detain a child in care without a warrant under the Child Care Act.

In his view, the Superintendent said, a court order preventing the girl travelling to Britain and absconding from care was required.