Reform at Oberstown in the interests of all, says director Pat Bergin

Violence, a rooftop fire, rioting, and industrial unrest — Oberstown Children’s Detention Campus had a bad week. With relations between management and unions at a low ebb, director Pat Bergin says some staff are unhappy with the rate and nature of workplace change

DURING this week, I was asked a question about what I was trying to do at the Oberstown Children Detention Campus.

The question caused me to pause, a moment of reflection which was appropriate and necessary. Substantial public interest in the events of August 29 about Oberstown, the young people and staff were the first and predominant thoughts I had, but this was noise which distracted me from the answers to the question.