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Irish Times
a day ago
- Irish Times
Tusla thinks missing 12-year-old is safe and in UK
A 12-year-old child who went missing from State care in 2023 is thought to be 'safe' in the United Kingdom, according to Tusla . In a statement to The Irish Times the agency said the child, whose whereabouts were unclear on Thursday night, had 'absconded' from Tusla's care soon after arriving into Ireland in March 2023, having indicated a plan to join family in the United Kingdom. Tusla, the Child and Family, later contacted a relative of the child in the UK who 'indicated' the child was 'safe' though no social worker spoke to the child directly. Since January 2023, up to 11th June, 30 children who have gone missing from Tusla's care remain unaccounted for. READ MORE In that time 123 children have gone missing from Tusla's care. Of these 65 have been found or accounted for, 28 have since turned 18 and their files closed, with 30 children still missing. The 12-year-old child is one of among 50 unaccompanied minors – children who arrive into the State alone and seeking international protection – found reported as missing during an inspection of Tusla's Separated Children Seeking International Protection (SCSIP) service The Health Information and Quality Authority (Hiqa), which inspected the service over four days in January and February, published its report on Thursday morning. When asked whether this child had been recovered safely, by Thursday evening Tusla was still unable to say. In a statement just issued it said: 'The child arrived in Rosslare in March 2023 with three others, including one adult. The child provided contact details for a relative in the UK and indicated they planned to travel there, though the child gave no clear intention to do so immediately. 'The child absconded from SCSIP offices while staff were arranging a placement and interpreters. 'The child was reported missing immediately to An Garda Síochána and contact was maintained with gardaí. The strategy was not convened within the recommended timelines. 'However, this was rectified once Hiqa brought the matter to our attention. This delay has been acknowledged, and systems have been strengthened to ensure more timely responses. 'Tusla acknowledges that the convening of the formal strategy meeting in this case was unacceptably delayed,' the statement said. In general, the agency said, if a child or young person reported missing is intercepted in Northern Ireland, Tusla is informed through An Garda Síochána's co-ordination with the Police Service of Northern Ireland. In its report, Hiqa said data at the time of the inspection indicated 'approximately 30 children [were] missing and remained unaccounted for ... and 27 children had been reported missing at various stages and returned to their placements' In one case, a 12-year-old child had gone missing more than 18 months before the inspection. 'There was no records (sic) of strategy meetings held with An Garda Siochana, or of contact with UK or Northern Ireland counterparts in order to share information in an effort to locate this child since that time'. In another case, where a 14-year-old had been reported missing from care more than six months previously, a strategy meeting was requested by the principal social worker, but this occurred 'five months after the child was reported missing ... and there was no evidence of liaison with counterparts in neighbouring jurisdictions'. Tusla said that while the report identified 'serious risks and challenges', it also recognised 'meaningful progress made since the previous inspection in November 2023. 'Tusla remains concerned for the welfare of any child missing from its care. The Agency maintains active engagement with An Garda Síochána and continues all possible efforts to contact and trace missing young people,' it said. The agency said children who went missing from the SCSIP service were predominantly 16 and 17-year-old males, from countries such as Afghanistan, Somalia, and Ukraine. 'Some communicate their intention to travel to the UK or other EU countries to join family members or relatives and indicate it was never their intention to stay in Ireland. 'In a small number of cases, they contact the service after absconding to confirm their wellbeing but do not disclose their location. Where a young person's location cannot be formally verified, they remain listed as missing with An Garda Síochána. Once they turn 18 years old, Tusla formally closes their case, but they remain under Garda missing person protocols.'
Irish Examiner
04-05-2025
- Politics
- Irish Examiner
Courts Service goes ahead with plans to move Munster district court sittings
The Courts Service has said it is pushing ahead with plans to move district court sittings from three areas in Munster despite local opposition. The Courts Service is moving ahead with the transfer of sittings from Youghal in Co Cork to Dungarvan, Co Waterford, meaning a 60km round tip for gardaí and court attendees. It also plans to move sittings from Cashel and Carrick-on-Suir to Clonmel. A spokesman for the Courts Service has confirmed that the district judge assigned to the areas wrote to the Head of Circuit & District Court Operations in March indicating that he is transferring the sittings. The transfer comes into effect from November 1. 'Additionally, with effect from June 1 there will be an extra sitting in District 21 on the second Friday of each month where cases from Youghal will be heard in Dungarvan," a spokesperson said. "It's planned that this additional sitting will be for Child and Family Agency matters. Details of these changes among be found on the Courts Service website,' the spokesman said. He added that the Courts Service has now commenced engaging with the various stakeholders such as legal practitioners, gardaí, State solicitors, the Probation Service, the Irish Prison Service, local family law user representative groups, unions representing court staff, and others, to explore any possible impacts and unintended consequences of the proposed transfers. The spokesman added: Upon completion of this work the Courts Service will report on its findings to the relevant District Judge and make operational plans accordingly The spokesman added that it 'has no record of having received communications about this matter from Cork County Council". That came as a surprise to Youghal-based Independent councillor Mary Linehan-Foley who won unanimous support at a council meeting three weeks ago to write to the Courts Service and department of justice urging it to keep court sittings where they are. She and other colleagues, including Fianna Fáil councillor Ann Marie Ahern, said the closure of Youghal courthouse would be a retrograde step. They said it would lead to a reduced garda presence in Youghal because they would be out of the town far longer while attending cases in Dungarvan. In addition, the move would put an extra financial burden on witnesses, especially if they had to pay for bus journeys between the two towns. Independent councillor Ger Curley, who lives in Cobh, claimed that since court sittings transferred from Cobh to Midleton there has been a lower presence of gardaí in the harbour town. Read More Overcrowding will cause 'tragedy', prison officers warn
