The State and one of its health boards were ordered by the High Court yesterday to immediately provide educational, therapeutic, psychological and support services for a two-year-old autistic child who "screams day and night".
Mr John Hanlon, counsel for the child's parents, told Mr Justice Quirke that apart from all the other classic symptoms of autism the boy had a feeding difficulty and was daily at risk of choking on his food.
The counsel said that all efforts by the boy's parents to have their child provided with appropriate support services had failed.
Mr Justice Quirke granted leave to challenge the failure of the State and the North Western Health Board to provide proper facilities and services. In the meantime he ordered the Ministers for Education and Science and for Health and Children and the board to forthwith provide education, therapeutic, psychological and support services.