Boy, 15, accused of damaging parked cars in Ennis granted bail despite garda concerns

A Clare-based garda has told a court that a 15 year-old boy currently in State care has told him that he will commit further offences because he is bored.

At the Children’s Court in Ennis, Garda Cathal O’Gorman said gardai were objecting to the teen being granted bail as his current TUSLA placement at a house in Ennis “is not a place of safety” for the teenager.

Garda O’Gorman said that gardai have been 'chasing' the 15 year-old-around the streets of Ennis in recent nights as there is no control on the teen leaving his care home in the town.

The teenager is facing three charges of causing criminal damage to cars at locations in Ennis and having in his possession a shard of glass at O’Connell Street, Ennis on January 21 and at Francis Street, Ennis on January 18.

Garda O’Gorman said: “We have come across him in dangerous circumstances. On two occasions in the last two early mornings we had to go searching for him and found him soaking wet and freezing cold.”

The garda said that the teen "shouldn’t be leaving this address and I don’t think this is a place for safety". 

He added: "I have raised these concerns with TUSLA and I still don’t believe that it is a place of safety. He is going to keep leaving without any controls in place to stop him. They have no control." 

Garda O’Gorman said: "He has told me that he will commit more offences because he is bored.”

He added that on two occasions gardai have found the defendant "down the town" and that when they contacted the staff (at the care home), they weren’t aware that he was missing.

Garda O’Gorman said on one evening, he came across the teen shortly after 7.15pm in Ennis town centre and phoned the care home without success.

He told the court that when he arrived at the care home he observed a staff member in the front room watching TV. He said: “I don’t think it is a suitable place for this year.”

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A social worker for TUSLA told the court that the boy was subject to an Emergency Care Order on December 21 and has been in the care of TUSLA since. 

The teen, represented by solicitor, Daragh Hassett entered the witness box and he gave a sworn undertaking that he would abide by a 6pm curfew at the residential home. The teenager also stated that he would not commit further offences.

Mr Hassett told the court that his client is facing “serious charges” including possession of the shard of glass “which was for his own protection".

Judge Adrian Harris told the teen that “this is last chance saloon”.

Mr Hassett told the teen that if there is any breach of bail conditions, it is likely that he would be detained at Oberstown in Dublin.

The social worker for TUSLA said that staff have been provided with updated training to improve the management of the boy and that two staff are 'on' at all times at the residential unit.

Judge Harris told the accused that it was on the basis of his assurances to court that he was getting bail. 

He also asked that the staff at the home be extra vigilant and that they alert gardai immediately if the boy leaves the home.

Judge Harris remanded the teen on bail to appear before court next month.