A TEENAGE Limerick criminal had to be released on bail after a judge was told that the Oberstown boys detention facility was full to capacity.
A recent sitting of Limerick Children’s Court heard that the 17-year-old who has more than 30 previous convictions, was charged with a number of offences on September 2 last.
The charges included a number of counts of burglary, stealing cars, theft, and other more violent offences.
At the time, the judge remanded the teenager in custody after he was refused bail and later the High Court upheld the order but, during a transfer from court, he managed to escape.
The boy, who is from a criminally active family, was the subject of an extensive Garda search before he was rearrested on January 15 and remanded in custody to appear before the High Court.
However, the court was told that, as there was no bed available at Oberstown due to over capacity, the judge would be unable to remand him in custody.
Under current legislation, young people under the age of 18 who are remanded or sentenced by the courts must be held in a suitable detention centre for underage offenders.
The teenager was released on bail and is to be returned to Limerick Circuit Court for trial on the more serious charges next month.
A senior member of the management of Oberstown boys detention school told a previous sitting of Limerick District Court that bed capacity at the Co Dublin facility could not keep up with demand.
