Some residents of a town in the west of Ireland, who object to a house being used by the area health board to care for "out of control" children, have been restrained by the High Court from conducting a picket.
The restraints were directed by Mr Justice Paul Gilligan yesterday after he had made orders for the detention, maintenance and restraint of a 15-year-old girl stated to be beyond her parents control.
Mr John Rogers, SC, counsel for the Western Health Board, said the girl, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, was currently in custody but would be released on Monday next by order of the District Court.
He said the girl, who had used the telephone for prostitution from a very young age, was in need of care. When not in a secure unit she had absconded repeatedly, virtually on a daily basis.
Mr Rogers said the health board had prepared an elaborate management programme which included one-to-one tutoring for the girl who was of above average intelligence. She would be accommodated in a secure house.
Mr Justice Gilligan granted the orders of restraint and detention by health workers and, if necessary, by the gardaí and appointed a guardian ad litum to represent the interests of the girl. Shortly after making the orders, Mr Rogers returned to court to tell the judge that "local residents" who were opposed to the use of the house for the care and treatment of unruly children, had yesterday morning mounted a picket on the premises.
He said it could hinder the completion of preparations by the board over the weekend and impede the court's orders which had directed that the girl be maintained at the house in question.
Mr Rogers said the picket was clearly unlawful and an interference with the health board's use of the house of which it was the lawful occupier.
Mr Justice Gilligan granted a temporary injunction restraining anyone with knowledge of the making of the High Court order from continuing their picket or interfering in any way with access by employees of the health board or their sub-contractors to the house.