A TEENAGE girl who has been in care for nine years during which time she became a heroin addict and homeless, has been given a six-month suspended sentence for attacking a hotel employee.
The girl, aged 17, also has attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), a condition described by Judge Eamon O’Brien at the Children’s Court yesterday as “ants in your pants, to use the vernacular”.
The teen pleaded guilty to assault causing harm to an employee of the Park Inn hotel in Smithfield, central Dublin, in July 2008.
Garda Ruth Collins said the teen and two other youths became aggressive towards an employee there when he refused to give them a cigarette. The three went into the hotel where a member of staff was “kicked and punched” by the girl. A youth with the girl jumped a counter and demanded money and €250 was handed over.
The girl, who had no prior criminal convictions, and her accomplices were arrested near the scene, Judge O’Brien heard. She was remanded in custody last month until her sentence hearing yesterday.
Defence solicitor Patricia Holohan told Judge O’Brien the girl had had a “very troubled, difficult chaotic lifestyle.” She was taken into care in 2001 and had been placed in a number of residential units.
Her mother was a drug addict and her father had died. Her attendance at school had been chaotic. She developed a relationship with a youth who was involved in drugs and had slept rough or used services for homeless people.
“She was severely addicted to heroin for the past two years,” her solicitor said. Judge O’Brien was told by Ms Holohan that the boyfriend was now in custody.
Judge O’Brien suspended the six- month sentence on condition that she kept the peace and was of good behaviour for the next two years.