Teen absconds 72 times from HSE care home

Independent inspectors have said they are concerned after a teenager absconded 72 times from a HSE-run care home in one year.

In the latest Health Information and Quality Authority report on the Galway care home, the inspectors found in one year, there were 117 instances of unauthorised absences by teenagers.

The report records “inspectors were informed by staff and social workers that on occasion during these unauthorised absences the young people were involved in inappropriate and high risk behaviour”. The inspectors found the absences ranged from one hour to two days and 18 hours.