A teenage boy detained in a Garda station because there was no place for him in Oberstown Boys centre, to where he was sentenced for 14 months on theft and other offences, has been freed by order of the High Court after the State accepted he was in unlawful detention.
The 15-year-old Dublin boy was sentenced on Wednesday to 14 months detention at Oberstown in north Dublin but could not be admitted there because there were no places available. He was then taken to Store Street garda station and detained there overnight.
At the High Court today, Mr Justice Iarfhlaith O’Neill ordered the release of the youth, who cannot be named for legal reasons, following an application by his counsel for an inquiry in to the lawfulness of his detention in the Garda station.
The release order was sought by Mr Michael O’Higgins SC, for the boy, and counsel for the DPP said the application was not being challenged.
The boy's solicitor said his client was sentenced at the Children's Court on Wednesday for a number of offences including theft.