Judge accuses teen detention centre of incompetence

The judge who accused Oberstown detention and education centre for troubled teenagers of incompetence yesterday said its failure to provide detailed reports on juvenile offenders to courts was unfair to the communities who had to live with the youths.

Judge Con O’Leary said: “ACTS [Assessment Consultation Therapy Service] gave a report to Oberstown but you will not pass that on to me. It is very unsatisfactory, very unfair to the defendant, very unfair to the community who have to live with him and very unfair to me. My interest is primarily the community and keeping the community safe.”

The judge wanted the person who wrote the report for the court to be present in court yesterday but instead a representative of ACTS therapy service, Trevor Brady, was present and he was not in a position to answer the judge’s questions because he did not have direct involvement in the case.