Boy at centre of row over availability of custodial places arrested

A bed has been found at Oberstown detention school in North Dublin for a teenager at the centre of a row over the availability of custodial places for juvenile offenders.

In the children's court Judge Ann Ryan criticised the government for failing to have detention facilities for children who had been charged with serious crimes.

She listened to an official from the Department of Children Michelle Shannon give reasons for the shortage of spaces at juvenile detention centres in North Dublin.

The judge's response was that the situation was not good enough as the court had to let a child free in the community who could commit some awful crime.

The teenager in question had failed to show up on bail in court and after making the comments Judge Ryan issued a bench warrant for his arrest.

The 16-year-old is wanted on charges including heroin dealing has since been arrested.

He has appeared in court and a space at Oberstown has been found for him.

He has been remanded in detention to next Thursday.