Kildare teen girl kept from siblings 'morally wrong'
“This is morally wrong and will come back to haunt the state in 20 or 30 years’ time," said Judge Desmond Zaidan
A JUDGE was critical of multiple state agencies in what he perceived as the poor treatment of a troubled female teen in care who hadn’t seen any of her siblings in over a year.
“This is morally wrong and will come back to haunt the state in 20 or 30 years’ time,” said Judge Desmond Zaidan at a closed session of the District Court in Athy on 24 March.
The girl – who won’t be 18 until December – was due in court that morning to answer three charges of assaulting her social workers at her care home elsewhere in the county on 26 February last as well as the destruction of one of the staff member’s phone a week earlier by throwing it against a wall.
However, things did not go well for the state from the off, and when first called one of her three accompanying social workers confessed they couldn’t produce her as she had absconded again.
“But you’re the state. It’s your responsibility!” exclaimed an exasperated Judge Zaidan, who has been dealing with this girl for the last two years.
“We can’t touch her, we can’t restrain her,” said one of the social workers who is also one of the injured parties from the girl’s alleged assaults.
“You’re the parent now!” said the judge, as he held up her relevant sheets.
“Two weeks ago – no show. Today – no show. I can’t progress it without her,” he said.
“Why is she in state care if you can’t control her? Give her back to her parents,” he said before issuing a bench warrant for the girl’s arrest.
When later the social worker did present her to court just before lunch Sergeant Dave Hanrahan, court presenter, informed the judge that if she seek bail, because of her habit of abscondment and failure to appear, he would object to it.
“I’m not giving any state agencies an escape route. If I smell a rat, I have to do what is right for the state and for that girl.
“If there’s no bed for her (in Oberstown Youth Detention Centre) I can’t jail her. That’s dead in the water,” said the judge.
When she re-appeared with three social workers immediately after lunch, Sgt Hanrahan formally removed the State’s objection to her bail “because there’s no beds in Oberstown”.
Notably, the girl was the third juvenile that day to benefit from this fortuitous overcrowding.
Solicitor Joe Coonan stood on her behalf informing the court that his client has eight brothers and seven sisters, “and she hasn’t seen any of her siblings since March 2025”.
“Some are in the system, some in prison,” he said gently.
“You’re entitled to see your brothers and sisters,” said the judge.
“It’s morally wrong and will come back to haunt the Irish state in 20 or 30 years’ time.
“Tell the judge in Longford to let her see her brothers and sisters,” he addressed the social workers.
“We’ll see you back here on 14 April. Out of curiosity, what would you like to do after you turn 18?” asked the judge.
“She told me she’d like to be a nurse, but I told her she would have to go back to school,” said Mr Coonan.
