GIRL KEPT IN "UNSUITABLE" UNIT

A 15-year-old girl with a record of drug abuse and absconding has been kept until now by the Mid Western Health Board in a "totally unsuitable" unit for boys, the High Court has heard.

Mr Justice Herbert was told that the boys' unit was due to close within hours of an application being made in court yesterday, and there would be nowhere or no one to look after the girl over the weekend.

The Co Limerick girl's situation was outlined to the court by Ms Elva Kearney, counsel for the health board.

She said the health board had no unit appropriate for the safekeeping and treatment of the girl in its area but had found a north Co Dublin unit that was willing to accept and care for her until the end of September.

She would then be transferred to a suitable unit in Cork. She said the girl's mother was in England, and all efforts by the board to trace her father had failed.

The girl, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, was a drug abuser and had absconded from care seven times.

Mr Justice Herbert directed that the girl be arrested without warrant by gardai and taken to the Co Dublin unit, to be held there until the end of September until her transfer by gardai to the Cork unit.

He also made ancillary orders facilitating her detention in both institutions until further review by the court in four weeks.