Youth jailed for costing the state ‘millions’

Youth jailed after costing the State ‘millions’


Rowan Gallagher

A 15-year-old Mayo youth who has received more assistance from the Irish tax payer than any other youth in the history of the state according to a District Court Judge, has been sentenced to three months detention.
The youth, who was before the Westport sitting of the Children’s Court last week, has exhausted his last chance, according to Judge Mary Devins.
“I have never before seen a more negative report in the history of the Children’s Court. The cost of help for this youth must be in the millions at this stage,” Judge Mary Devins told the court.
Superintendent Michael Murry, based in Westport, said that he believed this figure was only the tip of the iceberg due to the resources the Garda have to commit when the youth absconds from care, which he had done over 20 times.
The youth was taking part in an intensive care pilot programme  in Mullingar that houses two young offenders and has 12 full time staff looking after the youths. During his time at this facility he assaulted a female member of staff and put holes in his bedroom wall.
The youth was previously suspended from a Youth Reach programme for allegedly stealing a digital camera.
“I have to be blunt, there isn’t another young person who has had more help. He is supposed to have a high IQ but if he was using his IQ he would have more cop on. 95 per cent of the young people who come before this court have unfortunate backgrounds and it is not an excuse when he has had this help and support,” Judge Devins said before sentencing the youth.
“The letter and the spirit of the Children’s Act has been administered here. He has to understand that there are consequences to his actions and I will be placing him directly into the criminal justice system today,” she concluded.
Addressing the court, the youth pleaded for another chance, stating that he was trying his best - a plea which Judge Devins refused.
The youth was convicted of three counts of criminal damage and one count of assault and was handed down a three month sentence to be served in Trinity House Children’s Detention School.