Ireland’s children are languishing at bottom of the league of nations

WHAT are we to believe? The question is posed by the appearance of two conflicting reports, and one disturbing incident, all in the last seven days or so.

This past week several children (because that’s what they are) were at the heart of a garda investigation into a callous and brutal murder. Without wishing in any way to prejudge anything, that must send us some kind of signal that all is not well with our children. There is surely nothing more frightening than the thought that young teenagers could be capable of murder, or even of the sort of violence that can end in murder.

But in the same week we saw the publication of The State of the Nation’s Children, a document that seems to send an entirely different message. What’s more, the document was launched with sufficient accompanying fanfare to suggest that all was for the best in the best of all possible worlds, at least where our happy, healthy children are concerned.