A 17-year-old Dublin youth was remanded in custody yesterday for a psychiatric report after a court heard he allegedly tried to burn his family's car by setting its petrol tank on fire.
His mother told Judge Angela Ní Chondúin at Dublin Children's Court that she and her family were terrified of the youth and if he was released on bail, they would move out of their home.
The court also heard that he made threats to stab his parents, his siblings were in fear of him and he needed psychiatric help.
The west Dublin youth, who had been living in a hostel for homeless people, was charged with criminally damaging his family's vehicle and their front door on Monday night.
Garda Deirdre Durkin of Ballyfermot station, who arrested the youth, said if the teenager was granted bail his parents would be afraid of what would happen.
"He could damage a lot more and be arrested for something much more serious."
The youth's mother told the court she and her husband and their other children were terrified of him and she did not know what his problems were. She had tried to get help for him.
She said her son had had counselling, but she believed he needed more help. She had gone to a counselling session with him on Monday and that night, she claimed, he attempted to set fire to their vehicle and kicked in their front door.
"He set fire to the petrol tank and then he left; whatever possessed him I don't know. He arrived back later and tried to put in the front door; it took me and my husband to hold it shut.
"My daughter heard the threats he made to stab us and she spent the night shaking and crying, while my other son left the house to stay the night somewhere else.
"I don't know what sets it off; he needs to be put somewhere for an assessment to find out what is wrong."
She said she could not return to the home if he was on bail.
Judge Ní Chondúin remanded the teenager in custody to St Patrick's Institution and ordered a psychiatric assessment be carried out. "When I see a fire and hear of this terror, I am not going to grant bail."