Determined to abscond
The report, written in December last year, concluded that the young people in care did not receive a “consistently good standard of effective, safe care”.
Since then, another HIQA report noted improvements, but was still critical of the cyclical nature of chaos within the special care system as a whole.
Now, documents released to the Irish Examiner under the Freedom of Information Act reveal details of absconsions from Gleann Alainn over a two-year period, 2010 and 2011. The records show just how little power staff have over the young people in their care and throws up the question: Is this system of care really working for some of the country’s most troubled young people?
The following are excerpts from reports filled out by Gleann Alainn social workers. It is not known how many different girls the records relate to, as names were redacted:
* Girl was on a visit to another secure unit in Limerick. She arrived and was supervised. She left the visitors room of the unit and was followed by staff. She crossed the motorway and did not return. Staff followed the girl on foot to end of road and then called gardaí.
Area searched by staff of the two units and gardaí.
* Phone call from gardaí to say girl will be returning to Gleann Alainn and was found at her mum’s house.
She returned from absconsion under the influence of alcohol.
* Girl was attending school with others from another secure unit. Witnessed a young person being assaulted. Absconded with another young person from her unit.
* 7.45pm: At Dunkettle roundabout, girl jumped out of the car and went towards the city. Staff member followed on foot, girl went through the woods at the Brothers of Charity. Staff meet her at the other side of the wood and followed her, but lost her amidst the buildings in the area.
Girl was deemed to be constantly at high risk of absconsion due to her unpredictability.
Staff were suspicious that she had money on her person. Rang Gardaí in Anglesea Street. Garda car went to area from which she had absconded and searched area.
* Girls missing between 2am and 2.30am: Two girls refused to separate during sectioning times. Both girls were on the corridor watching TV. At 1.40am girl was giving cheek to staff. Staff saw girl watching TV through door. Went into the section at 2.30am and neither girl was present. Staff noticed annex door open.
One girl had stated night before that she was frustrated that no review had taken place in more than six weeks and no step down placement had been identified. Girl had access to keys.
Unit was searched, hospital security notified, gardaí notified, management notified. Searched Glanmire village and upper Glanmire and motorway areas, checked with 24-hour shops and local taxis.
* 7.15pm: While out on mobility at the Spar shop in Little Island girl told staff she was running off. She verbally threatened and abused staff and told them not to follow her. She ran through an estate and went over a bridge to a train station. Staff followed. She threw an empty vodka bottle and rocks at staff. She followed the train tracks for about 1.5miles in the direction of Limerick. Staff followed and contacted the guards. Guards arrived after about 20 minutes and put her in their squad car. She was abusive and threatening towards gardaí but eventually calmed down and returned to unit shortly after.
Staff reported that she was frustrated staff had hold of her box of cigarettes but other than that no other indications she would run away.
* A 15-year-old girl absconded in Dublin while on a visit to her family. Upon leaving the house her mood changed abruptly. When driving down O’Connell St, she was very quiet. She asked staff if they could stop and go to the toilet numerous times. Staff felt she was agitated and could see her hand on the door handle so decided to stop to use a toilet.
Staff found parking on Abbey St and one staff member escorted her to Superman’s on O’Connell St to use the bathroom. Once door of cubicle closed staff member entered the other cubicle. In the space of 30 seconds girl had absconded. Staff member approached security and asked had he seen her. Staff searched area but could not see her and so returned to car. Contacted father and gardaí at Store St.
* The girl was returned to unit at 5am by Gardaí and was under the influence of alcohol and stated that she had “smoked gear”. She refused to be searched and was put into single separation. A doctor was contacted as the girl had been self-harming.
* Young person jumped out of car at traffic lights outside the hospital. Staff jumped out after her and tried to negotiate. Young person threatened staff saying she had glass on her person. Staff followed young person onto South Terrace until she lost sight.
* Young person, 16, was out with psychologist and staff member having coffee in Wilton shopping centre. Met another young person in Wilton, went to speak with her, shortly after absconded. Girls ran to nearby bus stop and boarded bus. Staff members with psychologist followed bus by car to the city centre until it stopped on the Grand Parade. Girls got off bus and were met by gardaí and escorted back to the unit.
When returned to unit, young person was compliant and walked with staff around the school section. As she walked around and noticed that gardaí had left, she quickly climbed up on the roof of the unit. Staff members decided not to follow her and observed from the ground. The girl got an aerial and her manner was aggressive. However, various staff members and unit manager spoke to her and managed to calm her down. She came down from roof after one hour and came into the unit.
* 1.30pm: While out with staff member, a 15-year-old became agitated discussing a disclosure and informed staff member that she was considering absconding. Young person began to speak about an incident which had occurred the previous summer. While discussing the incident the staff member asked the young person if she knew the person who had hurt her at which point she became very defensive and threatened to abscond.
* 20.15pm: Unit received a call from staff member informing unit that the girl had assaulted her and absconded. Staff dispatched to the Kingsley Court Hotel. Upon arrival staff members found gardaí at the scene and staff member in a state of shock. Staff member said she had been assaulted by young person with a wheel brace and had attempted to take the staff member’s phone and car keys off her, but the young person only succeeded in taking the car keys.
Young person locked the car and absconded. Gardaí from Togher station searched the area but found no sign of the young person. Another staff member waited by the locked car in case the young person returned. A recovery van arrived organised to ensure the girl could not return and steal it.
* Return from absconsion: Girl was spotted in the bus station. When staff member went in to distribute photograph she took off immediately. Staff received a phone call from gardaí in Ballincollig at about 14.15pm to say she had turned herself in at the station. She was transported back by gardaí and walked around outside for 1-2 mins before coming into the building.
Appeared to be in good humour, remained in foyer for about 15-20 minutes chatting and was slow to take direction but was pleasant towards staff and eventually complied. She told staff she had been smoking joints and had alcohol the previous night.
* Young person was attending Court 19 in the High Court in Dublin as requested by the judge. She was in consultation room with staff member when she informed staff she was going to speak to her GAL. Shortly afterwards, her presence was requested in court, but she was not in corridor.
The girl was in Dublin knowing that another person with whom she was not allowed contact was also there and staff felt this temptation was too much. Staff also feel this may have been a planned absconsion.
Security was notified and staff were informed to stop her if seen. All areas of courthouse and Four Courts was checked and security video footage was reviewed.
* Girl was brought home for a planned home access but, due to parents not answering the phones, staff needed to determine if parent was at home. Young person was informed of this and upon arrival at home, her brother let her in and young person informed staff member that mother was in the bath. Staff member was suspicious and knocked on the door to ascertain if parent was present.
Young person never came out and ignored repeated attempts to reengage with her. At approx 4.40 staff members had to leave area for a bathroom break and when they returned and remained at young person’s house until 7.10pn, they reported absconsion to gardaí.
Staff made repeated efforts to engage in dialogue while outside the house. Tried to ring young person’s parents, no response. Staff members went looking for young person in town and northside of the city between 9 and 10.10pm.
Staff said there were no “apparent factors” which may have led to this as young person appeared very relaxed. But she may have been harbouring feelings of frustration due to unhappiness at her proposed onward placement and, therefore, may have felt the need to escape from her situation. Also staff felt the young person may have been aware that, as no parent was going to be home, there was going to be opportunity to abscond.
* Girl left the cinema after telling staff she was just going to the toilet. Film had just finished so lots of people around and staff member lost sight of young person.
Her review had been cancelled and she was feeling low over the last week due to missing her family
Staff member phoned unit to inform them. She searched all of shopping centre area, and was joined by other staff member who also joined in search.
Reported to gardaí and continued to search the area.
* 10.45pm: Young person was returned to the unit accompanied by two ban gardaí from Blackrock station. They said they had received a call from a man saying he had seen a young girl walking in Blackrock and she looked lost.
* Girl was placed on remand to Oberstown girls school by order of District Court following return from unauthorised absence.
* Young person was on an outing in Garryvoe when she met another girl. They absconded from the car of staff members and refuse to follow direction. Girl hid in a corn field and eventually made her way back to Midleton where gardaí picked her up whilst she was trying to board a taxi for Cork to her nan’s house.
Girl was collected from Midleton Garda Station by staff member’s and returned to unit by car at 2.45am. She sat on the footpath and refused to enter the building until 3.30am.
* Girl was on an outing with staff member during which she went to Mahon Point shopping centre. While there she came across another young person who was also on a outing. They spoke and decided to abscond.
* Young person was attending family access in Clonmel at a gathering following a family funeral where she absconded.
Staff felt factor could be Junior Cert results and uncertainty about onward placement. Staff drove around Clonmel looking for her with mother. Then went to Clonmel Garda Station.
* Young person was picked up by gardaí and taken to hospital and then dropped at social work department in Clonmel. She was returned to unit.
* On return from an outing with young person, unit vehicle was very low with petrol thus the quickest route to petrol station was via city centre. Young person appeared to be in good humour with minimal risk of absconsion. While en route young person became very anxious and said her heart was pounding and asked to show staff something.
When questioned on details she appeared genuinely distressed and told staff member that she was going to run. Staff pulled over the car. Girl got out of the car and began to talk to a man who was in the company of another male (both appeared of Eastern European origin). Staff member made several attempts to coax young person back into the unit vehicle which proved futile.
Young person made an attempt to take her handbag from staff member and when staff member refused to give it to her she became abusive and threatened assault. After failing to get her bag, young person proceeded to walk off in the opposite direction holding hands with the male.
* Young person absconded from garage when staff stopped for toilet break. Located within ten minutes but refused to return to car or interact with staff.
Young person was not keeping herself safe by crossing motorway. Gardaí contacted and arrived quickly. Young person immediately complied with gardaí and speaking briefly with them. She agreed to comply with staff requests, and was visibly upset, crying lots and apologising to staff members.
Young person was in process of transitioning out of secure care in Gleann Alainn to a high support centre in Monaghan. Young person said she did not want to move to Monaghan.
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