Cork mum can't get respite care for her teenager despite fearing his violent outbursts 

'We are hiding the knives. He wants to kill me. He wants to choke me. He is obsessed with death, violence, execution...'

The East Cork mother told the 'Irish Examiner' her son is 'good-natured, polite, happy, funny...' but that anxiety causes severe behavioural problems. File photo

An East Cork mother who has not been able to get emergency respite for her 15-year-old son says she regularly has to sleep with her bedroom door locked and hide all knives in their home because of threats he has made about killing her.

The HSE has apologised for the lack of respite care and committed to examining whether alternative supports may be appropriate.