Teenage boy in custody to be moved for Christmas under interim care order

By Darragh McCann, The Wicklow People

An interim care order has been granted for a teenage boy remanded in a juvenile detention campus, after a court heard that Tusla has now secured a placement for him in a specialised facility in Co Offaly.

The teenager, who cannot be named for legal reasons, appeared at an in-camera sitting of Bray District Court on Monday, December 8, charged with assaulting two members of An Garda Síochána. It was alleged at a previous sitting that last month the juvenile bit and struck two gardaí at his mother’s home. The incident led to a garda being hospitalised for his injuries.

Sergeant Mike Canavan told the court that the State’s position was to have the youth remanded for a further week to Oberstown Children Detention Campus. He said he did not want to see a child in custody for Christmas, but that the complexity of the case required it.

Solicitor for the defendant, Joe Maguire, stated that his client has already spent two weeks in custody and that Tusla has nothing to offer him. Mr Maguire informed the court that the youth is being held with common criminals. The court heard that the accused entered custody on legal advice, but that there has been no change in his situation. Mr Maguire said there have been no other solutions offered other than to lock him up.

Artwork completed by the boy while in custody was shown in court. Judge Áine Shannon described it as extremely impressive.

A psychological report was handed into the court. The court was told that due to the youth’s family situation, Oberstown is currently the safest place for him. A representative for Tusla told the hearing that because of the boy’s previous behaviour towards staff at his former State care facility, he must remain in custody.

At an earlier hearing it was stated that the teen had previously been in the care of the State and had been staying in a hotel with a daily turnover, rather than in sheltered accommodation. Tusla, the State’s Child and Family Agency, is responsible for child protection and welfare.

Mr Maguire said the alleged failure of the State was evident. The court heard that Tusla is involved only because of the situation at the teen’s mother’s home. It was outlined that the alleged attack began at the mother’s home and then continued, involving members of An Garda Síochána. It is also alleged that the boy was given illegal substances by a family member on the day of the incident.

Judge Shannon remanded the teenager to Oberstown until Monday, December 15.

An interim care order was then heard on Thursday, December 11, in relation to the boy, where it was announced that Tusla has identified a bed for him in a facility in Tullamore.

Counsel for the youth told the court that his mother is not contesting the application, but was unable to attend due to illness.

Mr Maguire put the court on notice that he is representing the teenager, but does not wish to represent the mother, as this would constitute a conflict of interest.

A Tusla social worker was sworn in and testified that the boy entered State care in 2015, due to drug misuse in the home and domestic violence.

The teenager returned to the care of his mother in 2025, with the assistance of social workers.

The court was told the youth is deemed “high risk” due to drug use and a fondness for weapons. The social worker told the court that he is known to carry axes and swords.

In October 2025, the teenager presented at a garda station in Wicklow, claiming that his mother had kicked him out and that he was forced to live in a “drug den”, where he was made to sell substances in exchange for a place to sleep.

He was later sent back to live with his mother after the State carried out an inspection of a new home she had moved into.

Background was also provided in relation to the criminal element of the case. It is alleged that last month, the boy visited his mother, where they consumed alcohol and smoked crack cocaine. It is further alleged that the teenager became violent towards his mother and attempted to stab her.

Counsel for Tusla told the court that two gardaí were hospitalised after being attacked by the adolescent.