Teen has absconded with mother, court told

A 17-year-old girl charged with prostitution absconded from care and has gone missing with her mother, a court heard today.

After spending three weeks in custody over fears for her safety, the girl had been released on bail on February 3 on condition she resided in a care home to receive help from social workers. She was not allowed live with her mother.

The Children’s Court had heard that the girl, a heroin addict, had been accompanied by her mother and little sister, aged six, when she was engaged in an act of prostitution in a laneway with a 50-year-old man.

The girl had claimed earlier that her mother was protecting her when she was engaged in prostitution. “She was minding me, making sure I don’t get pregnant,” she had said.

The girl’s mother has also been arrested as part of the investigation and could be prosecuted for her involvement, the court had heard.

Prosecuting Garda Mathew McKenna, Bridewell Station, told Judge Mary Collins yesterday that she was seeking a bench warrant for the girl’s arrest over her failure to appear in court.

Garda McKenna said the girl has been missing from the care home since last Thursday. “We believe she is in the company of her mother. Her grandmother said that she and her mother were with her for two nights.”

The authorities have been searching for the girl since Friday.

Judge Collins issued a bench warrant for the girl to be arrested and brought back before the court, adding that she hoped the teenager would be found quickly.

The teenager is charged under section 7 of the Criminal Law Sexual Offences Act for loitering in a public place with intent to solicit or importune another person for the purposes of prostitution, at Stoneybatter, Dublin 7, on January 3.

At the start of February she was released from custody after the court heard that a team of social workers had intervened and put in place a comprehensive care programme for her.

A placement in a care home was also provided where she could be monitored around the clock.

The girl was then granted bail for two weeks on condition that she remained in the care home from 7pm until morning time.

She also ordered the girl to co-operate with the care programme which includes counselling for drug abuse, educational assistance and psychological help.

It was also indicated that if she progressed positively in the care home and accepted the assistance offered to her, the criminal charges could be dropped.

On the date of her release she was also warned that if she breached the bail conditions she would be put back into custody.