Mr Justice Michael McGrath was told on 20 September that the boy had been in voluntary care, but had absconded and was living rough on the streets.
Solicitor Conor Fottrell, pictured, (Mason Hayes & Curran) told the court that the Child and Family Agency (Tusla) had made an application for a Special Care Order in light of family difficulties, including the violent alcoholism of the boy’s father.
Outbursts
The youngster had been placed in care following outbursts that had included putting his fist through a car windscreen. He was also sleeping rough and abusing alcohol and drugs after his mother said she could no longer look after him.
Mr Justice McGrath said the court was satisfied that the boy’s risky behaviour warranted a Special Care Order.
The gardaí were told to search for and apprehend the boy and return him to his care home.
A Tusla spokesman said: “Special care placements are a short-term, stabilising intervention, which aim to address the risk-taking behaviour and return the young people to a community-based setting as soon as possible.”
It’s understood the boy absconded while on an outing.
Risk-taking
Tusla said that when he was returned by gardaí, staff had worked with the boy to highlight his risk-taking behaviour, and that off-site activities have been curtailed for a period agreed by the boy’s multi-disciplinary team of social worker, parent, psychologist, guardian ad litem, and others.
The boy is one of 15 young people who have been placed in special care and detained under the Child Care (Amendment) Act 2011.
Seven Special Care Orders are for boys, while eight are for girls. Given the restriction on the child’s liberty, these orders can only be made by the High Court.
'Means of last resort'
HIQA has described special care as “a means of last resort” and says evidence must demonstrate that the intervention will be of therapeutic value.
In total, there were 346 children in residential care units at the end of 2018. Of these, 23 (or 7%) were under 12 years of age, Tusla has confirmed.
At year-end 2018, there were 5,571 children in foster care, with 3,184 under 12 (or 57% of the total).
Alcohol rehabilitiation
There are 77 youngsters in “other care placements” such as in supported lodgings, living at home under a care order, in a detention school or centre, in a disability unit, or in a drug and alcohol rehabilitation centre.
In all, 14 of these children are under 12 years (18% of the total).
The total figures for children in care in Ireland stood at 5,974 at year-end 2018, with 3,221 of these (or 54%) under 12 years of age, Tusla has confirmed.