A troubled boy missing for more than a month should be found within a week if gardaí put in sufficient effort, a High Court judge said yesterday. The 14-year-old is believed to be in Dublin, writes Mary Carolan.
Mr Justice de Valera said he expected the court to be told next Thursday that the boy had been found.
It also emerged yesterday that a second troubled boy, also aged 14, has been missing for two weeks. The court has made orders directing gardaí to find both boys.
The judge heard that the first boy, who has a history of substance abuse and no family support, has been missing since September 11th. He had been placed in Ballydowd Special Care Unit, but absconded.
Ms Gráinne Mullan, for the boy's court-appointed guardian, said it was hoped the Garda was doing all it could to find him. The guardian had written to gardaí asking them to indicate the steps taken to find him. "We are very concerned for his safety and welfare."
Mr Barry O'Donnell, for the South Western Area Health Board, which has statutory responsibility for the child's welfare, said the board's childcare manager had written to the Garda expressing strong concern for him. The board said the boy did not appear to be accessing the usual health board services, and seemed to have gone to ground.
Mr Justice de Valera said the matter had to be kept under urgent review. It seemed an area of Dublin was involved, and if the Garda put in sufficient effort the boy should be found.
In the second case, the boy had been on the streets from age nine, and his case had been before the courts over the past five years.
He had been placed in residential care, but went to live with his father this year. That arrangement had not worked, and he went missing several times between June and September. Gardaí found him and returned him to his father, but he left again and has been missing for the past fortnight. The judge was told that if the boy was found it was proposed to have him assessed over three weeks in a residential placement, and the board would then seek a place for him in Ballydowd.
Mr Stephen McCann, for the board, did not want the court to think there would definitely be a place for the boy in Ballydowd after the three weeks. The board would also look at other facilities.