Boy found dead days after he was ordered into care

A BOY was found dead, having apparently taken his own life, some four days after the High Court had made an order that he be immediately placed in secure residential care on grounds that he was considered to be seriously at risk, it emerged yesterday.

The High Court made an order on Friday, December 1, 2006, for the immediate detention of the 14-year-old boy, who may be identified only as D, in Ballydowd secure care unit. Efforts by gardaí to implement that order were unsuccessful and D’s body was found in front of a row of cottages, some miles from his family home, on the morning of Tuesday, December 5, 2006.

It is believed that D, an apparent victim of sexual abuse and with deep-rooted psychological problems, hung himself — but an inquest has yet to be held into the cause of death.

Once the detention order was made, a critical issue arose about how and when D should be informed of that order, Mr Justice John MacMenamin said. It was “fundamental” that the order was implemented urgently and in a way which minimised risk to D.

“Tragically, this did not occur, owing to a series of events.”

The boy’s mother and stepfather asked the High Court to conduct an inquiry into the events which occurred after the detention order was made. They expressed hope that the results of the inquiry would reduce the risk that such tragic events would occur again. Mr Justice MacMenamin carried out the inquiry in private and delivered his judgement yesterday in public.

The intention of the inquiry was to ensure the procedure for implementation of detention orders of young persons at risk “works in the most effective way”, he said. To that end, he set out proposals aimed at reducing risk factors.

These included the filing of detailed affidavits containing relevant information on the child and including the full facts supporting any claim of risk to life. The submissions also addressed the role of court appointed guardians, including their duty to ensure children have an opportunity to outline their own views.

Outlining a narrative of events, the judge said a detention order was made on December 1 but D’s whereabouts were unclear at that point.

Three days later, D came to the family home and his mother advised him to go to Ballydowd. He rang the unit and discussed his admission but when his mother came out to her car where he was sitting, he drove away.

The following morning, gardaí found the car and D’s body. “It appears very probable he took his own life,” the judge said.