Judge hits out after parents of child with autism left in "heart-breaking" situation for months

The president of the High Court has said the parents of a boy with autism and other disorders who has exhibited violent behaviour had been left in “a heart-breaking situation” for months with little apparent support from the Child and Family Agency.

Mr Justice Peter Kelly made the remarks after an agreement was reached on Friday for the 14-year-old boy to be moved from a hospital paediatric unit to an emergency residential placement under a voluntary care arrangement under the Child Care Act.