A High Court judge yesterday expressed deep concern about the absence of any suitable place for a disturbed teenage boy who, the judge said, was in "clear and present danger" of committing suicide.
The 16-year-old, who was allegedly sexually abused for two years from the age of nine and has no criminal convictions, has been detained at St Patrick's Institution for the past five weeks and remains there in the absence of a suitable alternative. All the professionals involved in the case have said St Patrick's is totally inappropriate for him.
The boy, whose lawyers have been seeking appropriate care and treatment for him for two years, has now almost "given up" and has told his court-appointed guardian and a psychologist that he intends to kill himself, Mr Justice Kearns was told.
Given the boy's history of suicide attempts, including one occasion when he had to be resuscitate after hanging himself with clothing, both professionals said they were taking the threat very seriously.
During a special hearing yesterday aimed at finding a solution to the boy's plight, the judge said the Ballydowd Special Care Unit should be made aware the court was dealing with a "clear and present danger of a teenager committing suicide" and that Ballydowd appeared to be the only potential short-term option for him. However, the judge was later told that, due to refurbishment work, Ballydowd would not be accepting any referrals before September.
Mr Mark de Blacam SC, for the boy, said legal proceedings aimed at securing an appropriate place for him had been before the courts on 28 occasions in two years. The boy, who has a severe conduct disorder and behavioural problems, had been placed during that period in an adult psychiatric hospital, two State remand centres, an open unit and at home.
Several reports had recommended that he be placed in a secure centre with appropriate therapeutic and other supports but no such place had been provided to date, the court was told.
A social worker with the SEHB who was allocated to the boy's case last April said the board had no secure place. She had pursued several options for the boy and had serious concerns about his being placed in a community type setting. She believed he was a danger to himself and others. A forensic psychiatrist was to assess the boy on July 18th with a view to setting out a treatment programme for him. The case had taken up 80 per cent of her time.
A forensic psychologist, Mr Ian Gargan, said a number of his recommendations in relation to the boy, set out in a report last March, had not been acted on. He said the suicide threats uttered by the boy had to be taken seriously given his past attempts. While there was an element of attention seeking the boy, who had had no emotional stability or degree of love in his life, had no other way of dealing with difficult emotions than attempting suicide.
He said St Patrick's was totally unsuitable. The boy was isolated, demotivated and believed no one cared for him. In his view, the boy should be released from St Patrick's and placed on a short-term basis in the Central Mental Hospital.
The court heard the boy was placed in St Patrick's after he discharged himself from a psychiatric hospital and went to his home town. He went drinking late at night and assaulted his brother with a broken glass.
The hearing continues today when Mr Justice Kearns has asked to hear if the Central Mental Hospital will accept the boy.
