Case adjourned as treatment sought for suicidal boy

The Children’s Court case of a 14-year-old boy, who has tried to kill himself three times, has been adjourned pending efforts to have him placed in the Ballydowd Special Care Unit, a secure therapeutic facility.

The north inner city Dublin teenager, who had been attending a school for children with special education needs, is being held in custody at the Finglas Child and Adolescent Centre amid fears for his welfare. He is charged with handling stolen goods, a bicycle.

Defence solicitor Michelle Finan told Judge Angela Ni Chonduin today that the health services were to make a decision on a placement for the teenager in the Ballydowd Special Care Unit later his week.

Judge Ni Chonduin adjourned the case until Wednesday.

The teenager has been involved in suicide attempts and incidents of self harm and his family fear for his welfare, the court had heard previously.

Last month, the court was told that the Health Service Executive did not have the resources available to find an appropriate residential therapeutic for the out-of-control boy.

Earlier the boy’s mother also told the court that she had been trying to get help for her son for since he was aged 10.

“I’ve been trying to get assistance for four years. As a child he has always been difficult to handle. He has gone further out of control and does not realise he needs help. He has not got the help he needs,” she said.

She also added that the only intervention she has received has been as a result of her son getting arrested and coming before the criminal justice system.

His school teacher had said earlier that in the last two years she, with the boy’s mother, has attended numerous meetings with social services over him “but nothing has come out of it".

She described the boy’s behaviour as “very extreme” and continued to say he had tried to commit suicide three times in school.