No probation officer for youth held in custody for 232 days
The situation was described as “crazy” by a senior garda, who said they had great concerns about who would oversee him on his release. The gardaí were not social workers, the court heard.
The teenager, who has 44 matters before the court, including systematic burglaries and car thefts, has been in St Patrick’s Institution in Dublin since Sept 4, and has appeared in custody a number of times before the court.
He was refused bail two weeks ago until he and his parents met with a number of conditions, including that they pay €50 a week in compensation and that their son joins an education programme.
Gardaí in Killarney have consistently objected to bail, saying crime will increase in the town if he is released.
The youth is part of a gang who have been running wild in the town and who have been involved in a large number of burglaries, thefts and criminal damage.
Yesterday, Inspector Aileen Magner told Judge James O’Connor she had “a major issue” with the youth’s supervision.
“There is still no probation officer assigned to him. He has been in custody with 232 days. This is a crazy situation. Nobody in the State has spoken to him as to how he is going to occupy his time.”
The gardaí were “not social workers,” she told the judge after it was suggested that a garda was to act as a supervisory/liaison officer.
The youth’s former probation officer had retired but had not been replaced, the court was told.
During the hearing, his mother’s mobile phone went off a number of times and at one stage Judge O’Connor asked why she needed a mobile at all “if ye are so strapped for money.”
The father and mother, who between them are in receipt of under €400 a week social welfare, have been told to pay at least €50 towards the €5,756 compensation bill for the damage to property and cars caused by their son.
However, it emerged yesterday that only the boy’s mother had been paying her share of €25.
The youth’s solicitor Padraig O’Connell told the judge he would have a place on a Youthreach programme from Dec 16 and this was the only place open to him.
Judge O’Connor released the youth on bail for a week but imposed a 24-hour curfew at his mother’s house. If there was one breach of the bail, he would go back to St Patrick’s at once, he said.
Judge O’Connor also ordered that eight named teenagers were not to be allowed visit the house.
“You are getting bail today from the kindness of the judge. The ball is in your court now,” Mr O’Connell turned to the youth.
Mr O’Connell told the court a fortnight ago the youth was coming into contact with “certain people in St Patrick’s” and he may come out worse than when he went in.
The €50 is to arrive each Friday at the solicitor’s office, Judge O’Connor also underlined.
