Teen mum offered sex, honeytrap case told

The 17-year-old is alleged to have offered a man sex in Temple Bar during a robbery.

The girl, who is from Romania, came to Ireland about a year ago without any parents and lives with extended family members in Dublin.

Over the past year, she has been repeatedly charged with begging, which she claimed she needed to do to feed her baby.

Cousin

However, yesterday Dublin Children's Court heard that she is now accused of being involved in a honeytrap style theft from a man at Bloom's Lane, in Temple Bar.

Garda Fiona Deevy told Judge Ann Ryan that it would be alleged that on September 1 the girl "was with a group of female Romanians that were engaged in the Temple Bar area offering males sex".

"They brought this male down a lane and distracted him and stole a gold chain, €40 and a Nokia phone from him."

The teenager, who speaks little English, had the proceedings translated by an interpreter, and did not address the court to which she was accompanied by a male cousin, who also remained tight-lipped.

The court has heard that the HSE had previously carried out a child protection assessment of the girl and found that there were no welfare concerns.

Defence solicitor Gareth Noble said yesterday that the girl is in Ireland without any parental support and living in Dublin with extended family members, in "overcrowded accommodation".

Since February there have been six referrals to the HSE, on four occasions from gardai and twice from the Children's Court, the court heard.

Mr Noble also said that it was alleged the girl had been influenced by older individuals, many of whom live at the same address.

Judge Ryan said the girl's crimes "have most definitely escalated" and her safety was a major issue; there is no one taking responsibility for her while the HSE waits for feedback from international social services.

She adjourned the case and called on the HSE to "organise forthwith reunification of the defendant to Romania with her parents".

hnews@herald.ie