‘Dangerous’ missing boy turned away from centre six times

As a Limerick youth, described by his family as dangerous, was at large last night, Children’s Minister Frances Fitzgerald was accused of gross incompetence in failing to provide adequate places of detention for troubled teenage boys.

The missing 16-year-old has been turned away from Oberstown House — one of the two designated secure detention centres for boys aged under 17 — six times since July. He had been sent there on remand at various sittings of the district court.

Last Friday, Limerick gardaí had to put him in a cell at Henry Street station after he returned late at night, having again failed to get a bed at Oberstown House.

As his detention in a garda station cell is not allowed under new legislation, gardaí took him to a special court sitting in Ennis on Saturday, where he was put into the care of the HSE until a secure detention place could be found.

It emerged at Monday’s sitting of Limerick District Court that the HSE now has a protocol which involves the use of Limerick University Hospital as a holding place at weekends for boys needing secure places at Oberstown House.

After being brought to Limerick University Hospital on Saturday, the boy disappeared during the early hours of Sunday and has not been seen since.

Oberstown and Trinity House can only hold 36 youths in custody and there has been huge pressure on both centres since boys in trouble with the law were no longer sent to St Patrick’s Institution.

Fianna Fáil justice spokesman Niall Collins accused Ms Fitzgerald of gross incompetence yesterday.

“She has now created a shambles whereby dangerous teenage youths have to be put into general hospital wards at weekends, causing fear for patients and putting new pressure on already overwhelmed hospital staff,” Mr Collins said.

“The Government moved ahead with closing down St Patrick’s Institution, which is welcome, but failed to ensure there was sufficient replacement detention places for teenage boys who the courts deem should not be at large.

“There seems to be a total disconnect within her entire department in the management of volatile youths who need to be kept safe in secure detention units.

“I am told by gardaí and health workers this situation is going to get worse and that you may have a situation in hospitals in various parts of the country at weekends where you have dangerous and violent youths being put into wards alongside sick patients because there is no secure detention places available in the designated centre.”

A Garda spokesman last night said they were still looking for the missing boy.