Juvenile justice ‘farce’ sparks teen crime crisis

CHILDREN are carrying out more crimes involving extreme violence and the system for dealing with them is a “farce”, probation officers warned yesterday.

The comments follow the sentencing last Friday of four teenagers for the gang rape of a woman. Three of the minors were on bail at the time, while the fourth, the gang ringleader, was supposed to be in jail.

“Juveniles are committing more and more serious crime,” said Oliver Fallon, spokesman for the probation and welfare branch of IMPACT.

“The gang rape was an extreme case, but we are seeing more and more extreme cases.”

He said probation officers were buckling under an increased workload and inadequate resources.

“We’re very frustrated, absolutely at our wit’s end because of the farce that passes as a juvenile justice system.”

He said while probation officers believed detention was a last resort they do recommend certain juveniles be detained. “In fairness, the judges go with the recommendations and order they be taken to Oberstown or Trinity House. The place is often full and they’re just released. Gardaí have nowhere to take them.

“In many cases, juvenile criminals are released early from detention centres or jail unknown to probation officers,” he said.

This happened with Thomas O’Neill, the 16-year-old leader of the gang rape in Cratloe Woods, Co Clare, last January. He was jailed for three years in December 2002 for aggravated burglary and other offences.

After serving 13 months he was released, unknown to probation officers. O’Neill had 35 convictions by the age of 16, yet he was released with no supervision plan. The gang rape was carried out a couple of weeks later.

Mr Fallon said probation officers wanted proper coordination with other agencies, more family conferencing, post-release supervision as well as the power to re-enter troublesome juveniles to the courts.

Minister of State for Children Brian Lenihan admitted there was a problem with young troublemakers in local estates.

“A lot of offenders of a very young category are causing a real problem and we are well aware of that,” Mr Lenihan said.

He said juvenile liaison officers working with the Garda Diversion Programme were attempting to address public concern in some localities. But he acknowledged more gardaí were needed. “Our current response is through the gardaí and the minister (Justice Minister Michael McDowell) is looking for more gardaí,” he said.