Anger as brain-damaged teen held in prison

Junior Minister with responsibility for children, Brian Lenihan, has said he has requested priority status for a brain-damaged teenager being held in prison because of the lack of suitable care facilities.

The 17-year-old, who is in the care of the South-Western Area Health Board, is currently spending his fifth week behind bars in Cloverhill Prison.

Health board officials have told the Children’s Court that the boy’s circumstances are unique and there is no immediate prospect of securing a bed for him in a specialist facility.

Mr Lenihan said today that everything possible was being done to resolve the situation and he insisted that the teenager was safe in Cloverhill.