A girl who suffered hallucinations and nightmares involving a fictional internet character had a supervision order made for her at the Dublin District Family Court this week.
The order was granted to the Child and Family Agency for the primary school child, after the court was told she had been exhibiting symptoms of extreme anxiety at home and at school.
A social worker told Judge Brendan Toale the agency was concerned the girl was emotionally abused by her brother and emotionally neglected by her parents.
The social worker said the girl told her she had seen a supernatural fictional character in the corner of the room while awake and alone, and also in her nightmares. She described seeing the ghoul, which cannot be named by court order, telling her to set the house on fire and hurt herself. She did not want to do this and was very frightened by it, said the social worker.
Poor self-esteem
The principal of the child’s school said the girl was capable, with good attendance, but had very poor self-esteem. There were very serious concerns about her progress, though she had resource hours. The principal outlined some of the very distressing symptoms of anxiety displayed by the girl, which cannot be reported by order of the court.
A second social worker said the girl had witnessed an extreme level of violence perpetrated by her brother against her parents. There had also been break-ins at the family’s home by individuals seeking repayment of her brother’s drug debt. She said the girl had trouble sleeping and worried constantly that someone in her family would be hurt.
A psychological assessment of the child ruled out mental illness and said her difficulties were due to environmental stressors. A psychologist had said her problems and phobias could abate in time, as long as there were no more stressors.
Both parents were present in court and neither objected to the supervision order. The social worker said the parents were co-operating with the agency, but she feared if a supervision order was not given, that could cease, as it had in the past. The child had missed mental health appointments and social workers had been refused access to the house, she said.
The judge said he did not doubt the situation was difficult for all of the family. The level of distress and behaviours displayed by the child were at the upper end of the scale seen in court and if not dealt with, could cause serious difficulty in the future. He said he was absolutely satisfied a supervision order was needed for six months, to allow social workers visit the child and provide support.
Foster mother
In a separate case, a foster carer applied to the court for guardianship of her teenage charge.
The court heard the teenager had been living with the foster carer for nine years. He had been in Ireland all his life. His mother had died and his father had returned to his home country.
The foster mother said she wanted guardianship because she had applied for an Irish passport for the boy three times and had been refused. She said without the passport, the boy, currently sitting his leaving certificate, would be unable to go to college. He was very intelligent, she said, and a very good boy.
A social worker said the agency supported the application and was aware of efforts made to obtain citizenship and the obstacles in the boy’s way. She said all foster allowance payments would continue once the foster carer became guardian. The judge granted the application.
