‘Dangerous’ missing boy turned away from centre six times

As a Limerick youth, described by his family as dangerous, was at large last night, Children’s Minister Frances Fitzgerald was accused of gross incompetence in failing to provide adequate places of detention for troubled teenage boys.

The missing 16-year-old has been turned away from Oberstown House — one of the two designated secure detention centres for boys aged under 17 — six times since July. He had been sent there on remand at various sittings of the district court.

Last Friday, Limerick gardaí had to put him in a cell at Henry Street station after he returned late at night, having again failed to get a bed at Oberstown House.