Care unit staff powerless to stop runaways

Staff are virtually powerless to stop troubled teenagers from absconding from special care units with many simply walking away, according to internal documents.

In one case, a 15-year-old girl in care took the keys of the unit’s car after assaulting a staff member with a wheel brace and trying to steal her mobile phone.

Another teen ran away from staff in the toilet of Supermacs “in the space of 30 seconds” and when she was found by gardaí at 5am was under the influence of alcohol and drugs.