This article is from page 5 of the 2006-04-11 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 5 JPG
A 14-year-old boy who ran away from a residential centre in Clare five times last week has begged a judge not to send him to a boys’ centre in Dublin.
The boy, from Ennis, had been ordered to stay at the centre, as part of his bail conditions.
He is facing several charges, including burglary and criminal damage to cars.
The court heard last Friday that the boy was arrested in Ennis that day, on foot of a bench warrant. Garda Albert Hardiman said the boy was in breach of a bail condition.
“He continuously leaves the premises without authorisation and goes to Ennis,” he said.
He said the boy ran away five times last week, and disturbed his family when he arrived back in Ennis. Inspector Michael Gallagher said the boy’s mother was unable to control him and a place was available for him in Oberstown in Dublin.
Defending solicitor, Billy Loughnane, said his mother consented to this, but the boy wanted to stay in Clare.
When Judge Joseph Mangan said he was remanding him to Oberstown, the boy burst into tears and begged for one more chance.
“I’m sorry for running away. Can I get one more chance? I beg you so hard. I get down on my two knees and I pray. Please . . . I miss my family as well. It was just too hard to settle in,” he said.
Judge Mangan said to him, “You are making mugs of us.”
The boy then knelt down, saying, “I don’t like being on remand. I swear to God I’ll do everything I’m told to do.”
Judge Joseph Mangan remanded the boy to Oberstown Boys’ Centre, to appear again in court later this month.