Limerick court hears boy, 16, refuses to get up for school in the morning

A JUDGE has expressed her disappointment over a boy’s refusal to attend school.

The boy, 16, is regularly smoking cannabis and sees no problem with his usage, according to a court-ordered Probation Report.

Reading the report, Judge Carol Anne Coolican detailed that the boy is refusing to get up in the morning, leaves therapy early, uses cannabis everyday, and sporadically attends an outreach centre.

Limerick District Court heard that the boy “doesn’t see his daily cannabis use as a problem”.

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Solicitor Darach McCarthy, representing the young man, said that while “there has been a shortcoming in attending school”, he feels the boy “is getting there”.

The solicitor identified the boy’s problem as follows: “I don’t think he has any confidence in himself”. Mr McCarthy said “he's only 16”.

The boy - who cannot be named due to reporting restrictions - has attended a probation course addressing drug use.

Mr McCarthy said that the boy has a strong support system, and that his parents are doing everything to help him.

Judge Carol Anne Coolican said the boy “has the potential to do very well”, but “the main concern is school”.

Judge Coolican stated: “Unless he attends school, he’s not going to get a chance with life”.

“He needs to attend school to better himself, not to please me”, the judge continued.

The judge proceeded to adjourn the boy’s case to a date in April.

The boy then proceeded to leave the court while accompanied by his father.

-Funded by the Court Reporting Scheme