A judge declared there was “too much mollycoddling in this State” in the case of a 15-year-old serial burglar this week (July 1 ), after his solicitor suggested one of the causes of his client’s recidivism was that the HSE was deficient in its treatment of his attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD ).
“If he had got a lot less help and a lot more hard work, and maybe a kick up the backside - and I don’t care if that’s reported,” said Judge Seamus Hughes, to the boy who was facing 11 further charges since his last appearance just three weeks ago.
The teen, who has been in trouble since he was eight, admitted to a weekly drink and drugs bill of €300. He attended court from custody, having been remanded there in Longford three days previously on account of the 11 outstanding charges, the majority of which had been committed since he was last given bail by Judge Hughes on June 8.
The court heard how the boy had recently attended a step-down facility in Monaghan after spending six months in the secure Oberstown Boys School in Lusk, Co Dublin, but that “the HSE had washed their hands of him and left him at the mercy of the probation services and courts,” according to defending solicitor, Mr Padraig Quinn.
However, when a HSE official gave evidence, she told the court how the boy was attending on a voluntary placement and refused to engage with any of the programmes at the Rath na nÓg centre in Carrickmacross.
“Your client is a serious serial offender, and I think this guy is going to spend a very large percentage of his life in prison,” said the judge.
The youth was accompanied by his mother who, the court heard, must attend a HSE parenting course as one of the conditions of her son’s continuing liberty.
“He doesn’t want to take the Ritalin because it stunts his growth and makes him skinny,” said the mother.
“I’d’ve loved to given him a kick up the arse, yer honour, but it’s against the law to hit your child,” she said to the judge.
“No it’s not,” replied the judge.
“This is a seasoned criminal and he’s cost the State an arm and a leg,” he said, before he remanded the boy into custody by consent until July 27, to allow the HSE - who he said he “didn’t blame” - to put together a comprehensive package of conditions, to include a psychiatric referral for ADHD medication, bereavement counselling, and an addiction treatment programme.
