Irish Examiner journalist Noel Baker was last night presented with a merit accolade in the daily newspapers category of the Justice Media Awards.

It has emerged that Scotland stopped taking Irish children into its care facilities in recent years because it did not have enough space for them in its care system.

The country’s only intensive therapeutic fostering service for extremely troubled children has been dropped, with the provider “devastated” by the decision.

Plans could be in place by the end of the year that would make it easier for children who have been in care to secure access to housing and education, the minister for children said.

The head of the new Child and Family Agency (CFA) has said he believes all, bar the most serious crimes, should be wiped from a young person’s criminal record when they turn 18.