Residential centre staff locked themselves in office ‘for safety’

Staff locked themselves in an office for safety purposes and called the gardaí at a residential centre for children.

On two occasions, staff had to take protective measures as conditions at the facility were so bad, it was regarded as being “in crisis”.

An inspection report by health watchdog Hiqa into the unnamed residential centre in the South found that just three children were staying there but, over a five-month period, it was plunged into difficulties that resulted in bullying, intimidation and physical assault as issues were not dealt with in a timely manner.