Teen transferred from St Patrick's after court hearing

A 17-year-old boy is no longer to be detained in the lock up at St Patrick's Institution following a High Court challenge.

The teenager is serving three years for burglary.

The teenager's lawyers told the court the only explanation given by the authorities for locking him up 23 hours a day was that it was for his own protection.

Senior Counsel Remy Farrell said that the 17-year-old is a Traveller and there is more than a suspicion that he has been locked in on the basis of his ethnicity.

He described lock-ins as something akin to a management tool.

The court was also told other obligations under prison rules were manifestly being ignored and that the teenager was being accommodated on mattress beside a toilet being used by adult prisoners.

Mr Justice Michael Peart at this point ordered an investigation into the lawfulness of his detention.

However, talks between the sides meant the case went no further – it has been agreed the 17-year-old will be transferred within the institution.