A judge yesterday ordered that £250 be taken from a court poor box to pay for lodgings for a boy for whom there is no State accommodation. Judge William Early asked the 14-year-old's solicitor to use the money to make arrangements for accommodation until next Tuesday, when the boy is due to appear in the Children's Court.
The boy had been arrested in Walkinstown, Dublin, last Thursday night and charged with possession of a knife. Dublin District Court was told that he had appeared in the Children's Court earlier the same day, when a judge was told that no State institution had a place for him.
His mother had told gardai that she did not want him back in her house and he was released but arrested a few hours later, allegedly carrying a knife.
Yesterday Judge Early was told that the mother still did not want him back and the position about State accommodation remained the same. Releasing the boy on his own bail until next Tuesday, he commented: "It is very distressing that we have to throw children out on the street in this way."
The boy's solicitor, Mr John Feaheny, agreed to arrange accommodation and the judge directed that £250 be taken from the poor box for this purpose.