Alert at rooftop security breach at Limerick care unit

Two youths who caused a security breach at a specialist care unit for troubled teenagers — where a number of violent incidents have previously been recorded — have “resumed their care” at the unit “under close supervision”.

Tusla, the Child and Family Agency confirmed that an incident took place last Wednesday night, in which two male residents of Coovagh House Special Care Centre climbed on to the roof of an adjoining building in the St Joseph’s psychiatric hospital campus.

The youths, both aged 16, are alleged to have caused damage to a building on the HSE campus. Children who are in the care of the State are sent to such facilities by special order of the High Court.

The alarm was raised shortly after 9pm, when the two youths scaled a 4.5m wall and made their way up onto the roof. The incident sparked a major emergency response involving gardaí, two units from Limerick City and County Fire Service, and paramedics.

Gardaí and the fire service had to use a 30m platform to reach the youths after they refused to come down off the roof.

In a statement, Tusla said: “Staff at Coovagh House responded to the incident in accordance with safety protocols. With the assistance of An Garda Síochána and the Fire Brigade, the young people were safely removed from the roof and returned to the unit.

“The young people have resumed their care and therapeutic programmes under close supervision.

“Maintenance was called on site last night and has repaired the damage to an internal and an external door.”

Coovagh House “provides special care for three young people”. “The full complement of six staff was on duty at the time of the incident,” Tusla said.

“Special care is an exceptional intervention for young people who display highly challenging behaviours.”