16-year-old boy with drug debt detained in special care after six shots fired at his friends
A 16-year-old boy, who had a €1,000 drug debt and was told 'war' would be declared if he did not pay, was taken to secure care on 5 June 2025 after six shots were fired at two of his friends (he was the intended target according to gardaí). At the High Court, Mr Justice John Jordan granted a three-month special care order after the boy assaulted two staff members on admission, fracturing one's nose and biting another.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrestednot reported
- Chargednot reported
- In court12 Jun
2 reports - Verdict
- Sentenced
Key facts
consolidated from all reports28 statements extracted from the articles
- whatIn March, two other teenagers leaving the boy's house were shot at (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe boy had amassed a €1,000 drug debt. (irishtimes.com)
- whatOne friend was hit and not seriously injured. (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe boy assaulted two staff members on admission to the unit. (irishtimes.com)
- whatHe fractured the nose of one staff member. (irishtimes.com)
- whatHe bit another staff member. (irishtimes.com)
- courtJudge John Jordan heard the case at a vacation sitting (irishtimes.com)
- courtAn interim secure-care order was granted the previous week (irishtimes.com)
- courtJudge Jordan extended the interim order for six days (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe extension was to allow Tusla to apply for a full secure-care order on Tuesday (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe matter was listed for the following Thursday (irishtimes.com)
- courtHe was taken on foot of a short-term High Court order. (irishtimes.com)
- courtBarrister Paul Gunning for Tusla sought a three-month special care order. (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe first statutory review is set for 10 July 2025. (irishtimes.com)
- otherThe 16-year-old boy is at real risk of death (irishtimes.com)
- otherThe boy was brought by gardaí to secure care the previous week (irishtimes.com)
- otherThe boy has no interest in court or care and would like his own solicitor (irishtimes.com)
- otherThe 16-year-old has been in State care since 2023 (irishtimes.com)
- otherThe boy had become involved in drug dealing and had amassed a drug debt (irishtimes.com)
- otherOne of the two teenagers was injured (irishtimes.com)
- otherThere was an intent to kill in the shooting (irishtimes.com)
- otherThe boy is now in a special care unit (irishtimes.com)
- otherThe risk to the boy's life, safety, development and welfare is very real (irishtimes.com)
- otherThe boy has been in State care since 2023. (irishtimes.com)
- otherAccording to gardaí, the boy was the intended target of the shooting. (irishtimes.com)
- otherThe boy apologised after the assault. (irishtimes.com)
- otherThe boy's mother is in hospital for a recurring condition. (irishtimes.com)
- otherThe boy was attending school every Friday and applying for jobs. (irishtimes.com)
The reporting
newest first- 17 Jun2025Boy (16) with drug debt and at risk of death ‘very aggrieved’ about detention in secure care, court hears
Reports on the High Court hearing where Mr Justice John Jordan granted a three-month special care order for the 16-year-old boy, noting uncertainty over whether the shooting was a case of mistaken identity and that the first statutory review is set for 10 July 2025.
victim, 16, malevictim, malevictim, male - 12 Jun2025Teenage boy whose life is at risk has ‘no interest in care’, court told
Reports that Judge John Jordan extended the interim secure-care order for six days to allow Tusla to apply for a full order, the boy has 'no interest in court, no interest in care' and wants his own solicitor, he has been in State care since 2023, was effectively residing with his father, and in March two other teenagers leaving his house were shot at with him as the target. Also briefly mentions a 13-year-old girl in the same unit who alleged assault by a boy.
victim, 16, male