Judge urged to put girl (16) in secure unit over sexual exploitation risk

A teenage girl who regularly goes missing and is at high risk of being sexually exploited needs to be placed in a secure unit, the High Court in Dublin has heard.

Mr Justice Bernard Barton was told the 16-year-old girl's father and the Child and Family Agency were very concerned about her welfare, health and safety.

Judge Barton heard the girl had a history of drug and alcohol use and had been seen in the company of older men as well as getting into cars with different men.

Both her father and those caring for her had reported her being in possession of relatively large amounts of cash at times, but she would not reveal the source of the money.

Care and counselling

Arising out of fears for her well-being, the agency secured a temporary High Court order allowing it to place the girl, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, in a secure unit for troubled girls under 18 at Ballydowd in west Dublin. The order was secured on an ex-parte basis (with only one side represented).

The girl will have access to the care and counselling services she requires when in the unit, the court was told.

Judge Barton said it was “absolutely in the interests of the teenager” that the order be granted.

Barrister Sarah McKechnie, counsel for the agency, said the girl had been in the care of the agency and in several placements since social workers first engaged with her some years ago.

Ms McKechnie said the girl had a history of absconding, initially from her family home and then from where she had been placed by the agency. She had gone missing for 17 nights in a month earlier this year.

She refused to fully engage with social workers or avail of counselling services. Due to lack of engagement it had been difficult to evaluate her mental or emotional condition.

Serious concerns

“Her health and physical well-being has suffered,” Ms McKechnie said. “She has been taking drugs and alcohol and has needed medical treatment at a hospital. She has expressed suicidal intentions and there have been incidents of self harm.”

Ms McKechnie said the girl was at risk of being assaulted and there were serious concerns about being vulnerable to sexual exploitation.

Counsel said the teenager had refused to avail of counselling services offered to her concerning sexual health matters.

She said the girl’s father supported the agency’s application.

Judge Barton adjourned the case until September.