Tusla care order extended amid allegations of unauthorised credit card use and accessing explicit content
The Wicklow PeopleAn interim care order for a young girl has been extended after the Child and Family Agency (Tusla) told the court that the youth has had her technology privileges revoked following two major incidents, including unauthorised credit card use
Representatives for Tusla appeared at an in camera family law sitting at Bray District Court seeking an extension to the girl’s interim care order.
She is currently residing with a foster family in Wicklow and was discussed at a previous sitting, where counsel for Tusla told the court that the foster carers had been due to retire from fostering, but decided to continue in the wake of the most recent incident.
The court heard that even if they move out of the jurisdiction as planned, the young girl will go with them.
A representative from Tusla testified under oath that the girl has been using her Apple iPad to access pornography and had used her foster parents’ credit card for unauthorised purchases.
The court was told that Tusla is investigating the incident and all her devices have been confiscated and her technology privileges have been revoked until further review.
Originally from a conflict zone, the girl came to Ireland with her sibling.
The court heard that she has had contact with her mother since fleeing a civil war.
A hearing back in December was told that her brother, who is an adult, is residing in an IPAS centre.
He is currently looking at applying for guardianship on a full-time basis.
The youth has been placed with a foster family for the past year. The girl was described back in December as “thriving” in her current school, with feedback describing her as “an ambitious young girl”.
The court was told that she is still having a positive experience with education and continues to have good school attendance.
Counsel told the court that they are seeking an order until March 17, with the intention of applying for a full care order in mid-April.
A full care order is when Tusla assumes parental responsibility in law, meaning the agency can make decisions regarding the child’s care, including medical decisions, without requiring parental consent.
Judge David Kennedy granted the interim care order and adjourned the matter until March 17.