Offaly teen in care taken to hospital after being found intoxicated in Dublin city centre

AN Offaly teenager in the care of Tusla left his hostel in Dublin and was found intoxicated in the city centre, Tullamore District Court heard.

The 16-year-old had previously made two suicide attempts, one of which resulted in him being treated at a hospital intensive care unit, a social worker told Judge Andrew Cody.

The teenager is on bail after being accused of a number of offences in locations on different occasions in Offaly this year, including causing criminal damage, illegally possessing a mallet and a knife, public drunkenness, a breach of the peace, and theft.

It was a condition of his bail that he reside at a particular address but Judge Cody heard that when gardai checked the location many times since October 5 last, he was not there 13 times.

A garda told the court that on one occasion he was found intoxicated and asleep on a couch in a different residence and on another occasion a garda believed he was under the influence of a combination of drink and drugs and was slurring his words.

A social worker for Tusla detailed that he had been taken into voluntary care on November 9 and while there were no issues that day or the following day; for three days after that there were issues with his presentation and behaviour.

On one occasion he left his care setting and was found highly intoxicated in a public building in the city centre and was taken to hospital.

The social worker said there had been no issues with the teenager's presentation and behaviour for the two days following that incident.

He was present in court last Wednesday (November 16) where his breaches of his bail conditions were detailed to Judge Cody.

The social worker said he was on psychiatric medication and was engaging with the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS).

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He had appointments coming up with CAMHS and a drug and alcohol worker and it was hoped that he be moved from his emergency accommodation to a private residential placement. He was also engaging with the Extern youth support service.

Called to give sworn evidence himself, the teenager accepted that he had breached his bail conditions and that he had a drug problem.

He told Judge Cody he was very sorry for everything and would engage with his social worker and the drugs worker.

“I'm really trying my best to be on my best behaviour,” he said.

He had been before a different judge who advised him to get involved in sport and boxing and try to get employment.

He knew he would have to abide by his bail conditions to avoid being put in custody and he knew that was somewhere he did not wish to go.

“I don't think I'd come out a better person,” he told the judge.

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Judge Cody told the teenager that he was at risk of being remanded in custody because he had breached more bail conditions than he had kept and he was concerned what he would do if he was “bored and hanging around Dublin”.

He decided to grant him bail again but only for one week and the court would then review the bail on a weekly basis.

The teenager must sign on at a Dublin garda station three times a week, must abide by all conditions set by Tusla, remain sober, abide by a curfew from 9pm to 7am, stay away from certain locations in Offaly and be contactable by mobile phone at all times.

Remanding him to appear in court again this week, Judge Cody told the teenager: “You're within a hair's breadth of being remanded in custody. This will be your last chance.”