A mother pleaded with a judge not to send her son to jail where he could get his hands on drink and drugs.
The mother of the 17 year old Letterkenny boy told Judge Paul Kelly that her son could not go to St Patrick’s Institution.
The mother spoke at Letterkenny District Court where the boy appeared after breaking his bail conditions.
Gardai told the court the boy was facing previous charges and had agreed to keep an 8pm to 8am curfew and stay off alcohol as part of his bail.
However Gardai said they found the boy out in the early hours of the morning on four occasions and also admitted drinking.
The boy’s mother said he was attending Alcoholics Anonymous and was awaiting to see a child psychologist.
He had also tried to take his own life.
The boy’s mother said her son falls into bad company but she was trying to keep him on the right path.
“He keeps falling into bad company. And then he drinks. He probably drinks every day.
“There have been days when he wasn’t sticking to his curfew. If I am allowed, I can try and help him.
“Sending him to prison won’t help him. It will just tempt him to keep trying to get alcohol and drugs inside,” she said.
However, Judge Paul Kelly said he was satisfied the boy, who cannot be named for legal reasons, had broken his bail conditions.
He remanded him in custody to St Patrick’s Institution until February 11th.