Special care unit fails to meet needs, court hears

A SPECIAL care unit for disturbed children, which was built following a 1998 High Court order to the State authorities, is not designed to meet their needs, the unit’s manager told the court yesterday.

Ballydowd Special Care Unit in Lucan, Co Dublin, was built following an unprecedented High Court order directing the State authorities to take steps to ensure the unit was open and operational by 2000. It was intended the unit would provide places for 24 children.

The court was told yesterday that in October 2000 there were only two children in the unit because defective glass and easily replicated locks had been installed and because of serious problems in recruiting staff.