This boy’s life sentence

Why can’t a country, which reported an Exchequer surplus of €272m recently, look after its most vulnerable, wonders Catherine Shanahan.

I HAVE a nephew called Darren. Like most five-year-olds, he's a stick of dynamite; curious, roguish and lovable all at the same time. He has many blessings a mother and father who adore him, a brother, a nice home, holidays overseas, toys and school friends. He lives near a playground where he meets his other equally fortunate friends every day.

He is happy-go-lucky because life has allowed him to be. One of his greatest blessings, though he does not yet know it, is good health. He has been dealt a good hand.