Teen attacked garda who stopped visit to prostitute

A 15-year-old boy, who attacked a garda that had stopped him from visiting a prostitute, has been put into a detention centre for his own safety.

The Dublin Children’s Court had heard that the boy associated with prostitutes, was in debt to drug dealers, selling drugs at school and known to have been carrying a knife.

Defence solicitor Ms Michelle Finan described the boy as being “confused” and added that he needs help and “needs to be taken out of the locality where he has been living”.

The boy was supported in court yesterday by his mother and had agreed to be placed in custody for the assessment.

A welfare report on the boy, furnished by a probation officer, was also negative, Judge Early was told.

Judge William Early yesterday ordered that the schoolboy should be subject of a psychological assessment in a detention centre; however he added that a week might not be long enough for the teenager to receive the help he needs.

Ms Finan said the week in custody would allow time to “get the train in motion. It would be safer,” she added.

The attack on the garda happened last July.

The boy had been caught outdoors at 3.30am while he was going to Leeson Street in search of a prostitute, the court had heard earlier.

Detective Garda Richard Hampson had told the court that when he asked the young boy where he was going, he replied that he was “going to Leeson Street to seek a prostitute”.

It was then decided that the teenager should be taken back to his home for his own safety.

At that stage the boy was not under arrest but as the garda car neared his home he became extremely aggressive and started to struggle.

His violent behaviour continued and he kicked the detective repeatedly leaving him with bruising on his legs.

The boy has no previous convictions.

The court had heard that his mother was extremely worried about him. Despite having achieved good results in his exams, his non-attendance of school had become a concern.

The boy was sometimes nervous, had difficulties in controlling his temper and lacked a male role model in his home, the court had also heard.

He had become violent after he became worried at the prospect of him being taken home to his mother by the gardaí.

Gardaí have also raised fears for the boy’s safety.

The court had also heard that there have been a number of difficulties in the boy’s family and the boy had started specialized counselling for troubled children.