Opening up a hidden world

IN May 2009, the Health Service Executive faxed a letter to members of its own staff advising that seven teenage boys attending school in Dublin were to be moved at short notice to alternative accommodation.

The boys, all separated children seeking asylum, were in the care of the HSE and were living in a privately-run hostel in Dublin city.

They were fifth-year students who were hoping to continue their Leaving Certificate studies in the same school. This hope was shattered with the arrival of the faxed letter, sent to HSE project workers.