Moldovan teen should be sent home, says judge

A Moldovan teenager, who has been living in Ireland without his parents after arriving in the State over a year ago, has been granted bail at the Dublin Children’s Court.

Judge Ann Ryan said the 17-year-old boy “had no ties to this country”, repatriation efforts should be made and “he needs to be sent home” to Moldova where his mother still lives.

Mr Frank McHugh from the Health Service Executive’s Unaccompanied Minors section said the boy would be taken into care. “We will try to reunite him with his family.”

Judge Ryan urged for this to be done and remanded the teenager on bail for two weeks with strict conditions including a curfew from 10pm to 8am as well as orders to reside at a special HSE care hostel in south Dublin and to sign on daily at his nearest the Garda station.

The tall black haired teenager who appeared anxious during his bail hearing remained silent but smiled as the court interpreter relayed to him that he was going to be released from St Patrick’s Institution where he had been held on remand since June 7 last

Bi-lingual in Romanian and Russian, he came to Ireland, via Kerry Airport, after he travelled through Germany on a forged Israeli passport and on his arrest gave gardaí fictitious addresses in Dublin, the court has heard.

An identity card belonging to the boy had been sent to the court 19 days ago by a man who will only answer phone calls from specific telephone numbers which he recognises.

The teen’s family are still in Moldova while the boy has been in Ireland for approximately 13 months.

He case stems from his arrest for theft of a wallet from a shop in the Blanchardstown Shopping Centre, in Dublin in early June. He has also been charged under the Immigration Act with failing to produce identity documents.

He has been in custody on remand since his first court appearance on these charges a month ago.

Garda Jennifer Rowan said yesterday there was still an objection to bail on the grounds that the teenager had no parents in the State and because he had given three false addresses in the past.

The care placement was not secure and he could “walk out tomorrow.” She also voiced concerns about an adult male, whose identity is unknown, who had been in the company of the teenager shortly before his arrest.

Granting bail Judge Ryan said a “common sense” approach needed to be adopted and efforts to repatriate the boy would be impossible if he remained in custody.

She also warned him he would be “straight back in custody” if he breached his bail conditions.