HSE policy ‘excludes troubled teens from special care’

THE HSE has been criticised for “using” a young person’s criminal charges as a way of excluding them from accessing special care units where teenagers are detained for their own safety and protection.

Daniel McAnaspie, whose remains were found last weekend after he had been missing for more than two months was refused a placement in a secure care facility in Sweden last year.

Defence solicitor Gareth Noble, who acted for Mr McAnaspie in his Children’s Court case, said a special committee which decides whether or not a teenager gets a place in a special care unit was operating under “crazy policy”.

He said it was his experience if a young person has charges pending, it was a “huge barrier” to accessing special care.

Mr Noble said there was a strong tendency by the HSE to use the fact that a young person was going through the criminal justice system as a reason not to give them a place.

The National Special Care Admission and Discharge Committee, which makes the decision is part of the HSE and sits once every two weeks to review cases and make decisions on whether or not a child is suitable for secure care.

Mr Noble said it was a bizarre situation that social workers applied for a place on behalf of the young person, but the committee, also part of the HSE, could turn it down.

Leading child protection solicitor Catherine Ghent said the HSE was “abdicating responsibility” towards young vulnerable people by allowing this practice.

Mr Noble is acting for a 17-year-old girl with a history of going missing from care and who has repeatedly been before the Children’s Court.

Social workers made an application to the committee, and a decision will be made today whether or not she will get a place in a special care unit.

Last week in Children’s Court Judge Heather Perrin expressed concern there was no emergency mechanism which would take the girl, HSE solicitor Gina Cleary said nothing could be done until the special committee sat to hear the girl’s case.