A High Court judge was told today that a 16-year-old girl with an extremely tragic background is at imminent risk of losing her life.
Lawyers for the Health Service Executive, said the girl, who cannot be identified, had been in custody in connection with fire-setting crimes and had serious problems with drugs and alcohol.
Since her discharge from the care of the HSE she had displayed serious and very disturbing psychiatric and psychological conditions in recent times.
Senior Counsel Felix McEnroy said the girl, while in the non-detention care of the HSE, sat her Junior Certificate exams and was due to get her results today.
"Those who care about her believe this could spark off yet another spiral of personal disintegration that is hard to imagine," Mr McEnroy said.
"Her exam results could trigger another pattern of destructive behaviour and she is clearly a risk to herself both from alcohol and drugs."
He said the HSE feared she could abscond from her current care situation and was also in danger of becoming pregnant.
Mr McEnroy said the High Court had an obligation to vindicate the rights of the minor and the HSE was seeking leave to have her detained for her own safety and a guardian appointed to represent her legal interests.
Mr Justice Daniel O'Keeffe directed her immediate detention and adjourned the matter until 24 September before Mr Justice George Birmingham who would be dealing with a number of child matters.
