A teenager in the care of the Eastern Health Board is to remain in a guesthouse until next month because there is no other place available for him, a High Court judge has directed.
Mr Justice Kelly yesterday said the situation was "not perhaps ideal" but told the 17-year-old youth, who has been in care since he was two years, that it was the best available at present.
He told the youth he would overlook an incident over Christmas when the youth had gone out drinking and had later claimed he had been mugged. The youth later admitted to EHB staff that this was untrue.
The judge said the youth would turn 18 in six months and it was in his best interest to co-operate with whatever counselling and other services were available.
In court yesterday, Mr Gerry Durkan SC, for the youth, said the guesthouse was not suitable but the EHB had indicated no other facility was available at present. The boy was staying in one room while two EHB staff were in another.
He said the youth regretted the incident over Christmas when he went out drinking. His client had been attending an education facility but was at a loose end over Christmas. The youth was again attending the facility and had pulled himself together.
He said the case had been the subject of "lurid publicity" which did not help the situation.
The court heard that efforts were made by the EHB to find suitable accommodation but these were unsuccessful. However, accommodation would be available from February 2nd. The board proposed a counselling placement for the youth and a restructuring of his care regime to have him eventually living in a flat with access to a social worker.
Mr Patrick MacEntee SC, for the board, said it was clear that funds, endeavour and imagination had been put into doing everything possible for the youth.
Summoning the teenager to the witness box, Mr Justice Kelly told him to ignore an "unhelpful" newspaper headline regarding his situation. "Remember, today's newspaper will be used to wrap tomorrow's fish," said the judge.
He said the incident over Christmas involving drinking was "stupid and foolish" but he would overlook it in light of the substantial progress made by the youth prior to that.
He listed the matter for review on February 16th.