Concerns for young offenders placed in adult prisons

The body set up to advise the Government on juvenile detention has said it is concerned about the high number of children detained in adult facilities.

The Special Residential Services Board said progress has been made in the area of providing live-in care and community support for troubled children.

More than 200 youngsters were looked after in the country's five detention schools during the first year of the board’s tenure.

But SRSB chief executive Roger Killeen said nearly 150 16 and 17-year-olds were placed in adult prisons.

He said it is highly likely that these children will become more heavily involved in crime when their role models in these centres have already committed to a life of crime.

Minister for Children Brian Lenihan announced that he will bring the board’s proposals to Cabinet shortly.

He said he wants to see child detention centres becoming “the norm” for all young offenders up to the age of 18.