A 14-year-old boy who had been detained in Pearse Street Garda station for two nights is to be accommodated in an assessment centre until Thursday and then transferred to a State remand centre, the High Court was told yesterday. The boy is on remand from the Children's Court on a larceny charge.
Proceedings were taken on the boy's behalf to have him freed from the Garda station, where he had been taken because no other place was available. It was submitted by Ms Marie Torrens, for the boy, that his detention in the Garda station was inappropriate and illegal. When the matter came before Mr Justice Kearns yesterday, Mr Conleth Bradley, for the Garda Commissioner, said he could not certify the legality of the child's detention.
Ms Torrens asked that the boy be released. Mr Justice Kearns noted the boy had earlier this year taken judicial review proceedings seeking orders for his proper care and accommodation and adjourned the matter for a short time.
Later, the judge was told a place was available for the boy in an assessment centre until Thursday, when he could be transferred to a remand centre.
The case was adjourned until Friday.