Judge sympathetic with teen vandal at Kildare court
“The state has to do better,” said the judge
A TEENAGE girl on charges of vandalising the care home in which she resides got a sympathetic ear from the judge, saying “had this case been before me, I would throw out these charges”, before reluctantly remanding her on continuing bail to reappear in Clonmel District Court on 28 November.
The girl, who now resides at a care home in Kildare — hence her appearance in Athy District Court — had previously been residing at a care home in Tipperary, where she had been charged with three counts of criminal damage.
It is alleged that on 13 June 2023 she damaged an interior wall at the unit, and again on 16 June 2023 she deliberately blocked a drain at the home, resulting in flood damage to the residence.
Then, on 10 January 2024, she damaged another wall there with a sweeping brush.
“Seriously, there has to be something wrong, because it’s always the same thing with cases like these,” said Judge Desmond Zaidan. “This can’t be a fluke, it’s disheartening. Why is she in care?”
“She was taken into care in 2021 from neglectful parental violence,” explained one of the three accompanying social workers from the two care homes.
“The state has to do better,” sighed the judge. “And the state has to step into the breach.”
He then asked the girl why she did these things.
“They wouldn’t let me go to my brother’s grave,” she told the judge.
“She has suffered a number of bereavements since entering care, but she doesn’t like to hear the word ‘no’,” explained one of the social workers.
“Is she getting any therapy?” asked the judge.
“She has attended the graveside and attended the funeral Masses,” said the social worker.
“I still believe that behind that face is a unique talent, she has her own gift from nature,” said the judge.
“Sadly, she hasn’t been able to nurture that gift and that’s terrible.
“When this girl hits 18, there’s no more protection for her and it’s just the Dochas Centre (women’s prison at Mountjoy)."
The judge concluded: “Seriously if the state did an audit about how many times this happens."
