Troubled youth - Prison no place for mentally ill

It has to be glaringly obvious to the Tánaiste and Minister for Health, Mary Harney, that the case of an 18-year-old brain damaged youth incarcerated in prison needs to be urgently resolved.

He is in Cloverhill Prison officially in relation to assault charges, but he is essentially there because he is a severely disturbed young person and the State simply has no other unit for him.

According to Fr Peter McVerry, renowned for championing such plights, this is an absolutely appalling case which highlights the lack of adolescent psychiatric facilities in Ireland. He was described as having suicidal tendencies and is incapable of independent living; even living in an apartment with a care worker's support had to be abandoned.