Children at risk offered are no hope by a negligent and outdated state apparatus

THE record over many years and many governments shows that issues relating to children, particularly children on the margins, are not given political priority.

The tragic reality is that having failed our children for decades we have continued to fail those at risk by not putting in place the legislative measures necessary to cater for the diversity of problems they face. Clearly most of the affected children are on the margins and do not have political clout, having no right to vote because of their age. Most children who come into contact with the law are poor and many politicians assume that because the poor generally don’t vote, they can afford to ignore them.

It is not until later in life, when the same children have become criminals filling our prisons at enormous cost to the state, that the issue of justice receives high-profile attention by the relevant government departments. Most of the issues manifesting themselves in our prisons could have been dealt with when the prisoners were aged nine, 10 or 11 and the problems were first evident.

There was no service in place to deal with them. They grew up neglected by the state and it was only a matter of time before they ended up behind bars. Children have been left in a vulnerable position because our court system and legal remedies are antiquated. It is a disgrace that our criminal law relating to children continues to operate under an act passed almost a century ago and largely replaced in 1926. Unless there is comprehensive reform of the system little children will continue to suffer.

Cllr Noel Collins

Midleton

Co Cork