An interim care order for a teenager, who was an unaccompanied minor, was granted by Dublin District Court. The teenager’s mother was based in north-east Africa and the father had been killed by an Islamic militia.
The solicitor for the Child and Family Agency informed the court that the CFA had tried to contact the mother on a number of occasions but the social worker had been unable to have any meaningful contact with her. The solicitor said that the teenager did have some contact with the mother.
The CFA had established the age of the teenager and were satisfied that there was no parent in this jurisdiction.
Following the father’s death, the teenager had subsequently travelled to the nearest city as he had also been injured by the Islamic militia. He had left his country with the assistance of a family member and had travelled through a number of other countries before reaching Ireland.
The teenager had settled in well in Ireland. He was placed in a specific unit for unaccompanied minors and was learning English. It was intended that he would join a mainstream school for the coming academic year. The court was updated on the health of the teenager.
The social workers said they would support his application for international protection.
The solicitor for the boy’s guardian ad litem (GAL) confirmed she was supporting the ICO application.
The judge granted the interim care order and noted the teenager was receiving support for English and translators were provided as required. The judge noted the mother was in Africa and the father was deceased.
The interim care order would come back before the court for renewal two months later.
The usual section 47 directions were made to allow the social workers consent to medical/dental treatment as required.