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Irish Times
5 days ago
- Health
- Irish Times
Teenager who ‘aged out' of secure care placed in Dublin city centre apartment where staff ‘drop in'
A teenager who 'aged out' of his secure-care placement last weekend has been placed by Tusla in a two-bedroom apartment in Dublin city centre with security guards and care staff 'dropping in'. The High Court heard on Thursday plans for the 18-year-old, who has an emerging personality disorder, were 'grossly inadequate' and would have a 'monumental effect on his behaviour' with potentially 'seismic consequences'. Judge John Jordan was told the young man had been in a secure-care unit for three years until last Friday where he had 'responded well' to antipsychotic medication prescribed by an on-site psychiatrist. A child or young person who is deemed to be at such a risk to themselves, or others, as to need therapeutic residential care may be detained in secure care by the High Court. READ MORE The young man was now in an apartment 'without an adult psychiatrist', said Shane Costello SC, for the man's parents. 'He is being released into the community without even someone to prescribe the medication. He does not yet have a GP. He has nothing to do.' The court heard agency care staff would 'drop in' to visit the young man in his new accommodation. Mr Costello said: 'There is no assessment of needs . . . There is no aftercare document. It is grievously wrong that this is the best we can do in this country for someone with [the teenager's] presentations. 'My clients are distraught. They feel it is only a matter of time before [he] finds himself in great conflict with society which may result in further criminal charges.' Judge Jordan heard the adolescent was before another court on Thursday facing criminal charges relating to events while he was in special care. The parents were 'worried sick' by the situation and 'my heart goes out to them', he said. But as their son was now 18 he could not make orders in respect of his aftercare. Nor could he 'fix' those aspects of mental health services that were 'hugely deficient' in responding to children and young adults with 'emerging personality disorders'. It was an issue 'that needs to be addressed', said the judge 'because it is creating a situation where children coming of age are falling between stools'. 'They are not getting the care or support that they need, It is terribly unfortunate because it seems to me there is good support for the view that [the young man's] prospects are prospects that one can be optimistic about if he gets the mental healthcare and interventions that he needs.' He listed the matter for further review on July 3rd, saying he wanted updates on Tusla's and the HSE's support plans. 'It's not too much to ask and it's not too much for [the man] and his parents to ask,' he said. Earlier, the court heard updates on a case involving 'an incredibly vulnerable girl' aged 17 with an emerging personality disorder, in secure care and fearing she will be 'left with nothing' in mental health supports on reaching 18. 'It is very apparent from the reviews she is a highly intelligent, highly articulate girl with a difficult diagnosis that State services are struggling to manage in respect of a emotionally unstable personality disorder,' the court heard. Judge Jordan was 'not satisfied' sufficient planning was under way for the girl's aftercare. 'I will if needs be, be listing this matter on a frequent basis to expedite the planning,' he said. The number of operational secure-care beds increased from 14 to 15 since last week, the court heard. Among those who got one was a 15-year-old boy who, the court had heard, was 'free falling' and whose father believed would 'die' without secure care.
Irish Times
22-05-2025
- Irish Times
Failure to provide secure care beds for children at risk an ‘affront to the rule of law'
The ongoing failure of Tusla , the Child and Family Agency, to provide secure care beds to the most at risk, vulnerable children is an 'affront to the rule of law', a High Court judge has said. Judge John Jordan, presiding over the weekly 'no beds' list on Thursday, heard updates on three children in respect of whom secure care orders have been made but who cannot get a bed due to staff shortages. The hearing comes a week after an inquest jury, which found Daniel McAnaspie (17) died by unlawful killing while in the care of the State, recommended increased funding for Tusla to ensure timely access to secure care for the most at risk young people. Meath coroner's court heard the boy, who was murdered in Blanchardstown in February 2010 and his decomposed body found in Co Meath three months later, had 'begged' to be taken into secure care in the months before his death. READ MORE Three applications by social workers for secure care were refused by a HSE special care committee due to lack of beds. A child or young person who is deemed to be at such a risk to themselves, or others, as to need therapeutic residential care may be detained in secure care by the High Court. On Thursday Judge Jordan heard a 15-year-old boy with a neuro-developmental disorder was 'free-falling'. His father believed without secure care the boy 'will die', the court heard. The boy is misusing alcohol and drugs, was found in possession of detergent tablets 'for no reason', is engaging with a family with criminal links, has been assaulted and needs dental care for knocked-out teeth. He faces 90 criminal charges. A 16-year-old girl who is self-harming and has attempted suicide, has been 'drawn into a life of criminality, drug dealing ... dealing in crack cocaine as a result of being ... exploited by a criminal gang', the judge said. She is at physical risk due to travelling in stolen cars and has been 'subjected to sexual exploitation'. Supports put in place for a 17-year-old girl for whom a secure bed order was made in November, were 'not keeping [her] safe'. Recently sexually abused by a person known to pose a risk to children, she was 'very, very reluctant' to be interviewed by gardaí, saying she 'had arranged for a vigilante beating to be delivered to the person she identified as the perpetrator instead', the court heard. She turns 18 next month, becoming ineligible for secure care. 'This is unsatisfactory,' the judge said. 'This child should have been in special care if the Child and Family Agency complied with the order they applied for ... That is an appalling situation and it is very difficult to argue [the girl] has not suffered as a result.' The judge said he was 'tired of the excuses and the platitudes' from the agency. 'Children are suffering and it is known they are suffering,' he said. 'Nobody, no judge should have to sit and listen to anyone, not least the State or an embodiment of the State, attempting to excuse noncompliance with a court order which they applied for and obtained.' The court heard the number of secure care beds had fallen in recent weeks, from 15 to 14. There are 26 such beds but 12 remain closed due to staff shortages. The situation had 'gone backwards', said the judge. 'This system in crisis, this dysfunctional system is getting worse ... It is an indictment of the State that those special care beds are not available.' Legal representatives for Tusla, present in court, did not object to his comments.
Irish Times
16-05-2025
- Irish Times
Crisis for at-risk children worse now than it was when Daniel McAnaspie was murdered in 2010, inquest hears
The crisis in secure care for the most at-risk children has intensified since the murder of teenager Daniel McAnaspie, social workers involved in his care say. An inquest into the boy's death returned a verdict of unlawful killing on Thursday. It also heard that the needs of at-risk children are becoming more complex. High Court judge John Jordan recently described such children as 'frequently broken, traumatised, actively suicidal'. Just 14 of 26 secure-care beds are operational due to 'staff shortages', Meath Coroner's Court heard on Thursday. READ MORE A young person who is deemed to be at such risk to themselves, or others, as to need therapeutic residential care may be detained in secure care by order of the High Court. Daniel McAnaspie was 17 when he was murdered on February 26th, 2010. He had been known to care services since birth. The inquest heard that in the last 15 months of his life, Daniel had 20 care placements, including one he could not access until after midnight. His badly decomposed remains were found in a drainage ditch in Co Meath by a farmer in May 2010. In 2017, two men were convicted in connection with his death, one of murder and the other of manslaughter. There are currently four young people who are the subject of a High Court Order and are awaiting a placement in special care — Tusla Daniel's inquest heard he pleaded with social workers to 'lock him up' because he was terrified of drug dealers to whom he owed €2,000. Social workers made multiple applications to the HSE's special care committee for secure care as his life spiralled into chaos. Their applications were refused. Tusla said on Thursday: 'There are currently four young people who are the subject of a High Court Order and are awaiting a placement in special care. For these young people, we are currently unable to fully meet our statutory obligations regarding special care. 'We share the concern this causes for the High Court, for professionals involved in the care of these young people and most importantly, for the young people themselves and their families.' Mark Smith, Tusla's director of special care services, worked with Daniel in a high-support unit around 2006. He told the inquest he expected one secure-care bed to become free before the weekend. 'I would love to see a situation where we would have all 26 beds [fully staffed],' said Mr Smith. Asked whether improved pay in secure-care work would help, he said: 'The pay is always a challenge... If the pay was significantly better I am sure we would have better retention rates.' He said children were presenting who are in need of detention for their own safety. These cases are 'increasingly complex', said Mr Smith, pointing to the need for 'greater resources' and 'a greater level of care'. Pól Ó Murchu, solicitor for Daniel's guardian ad litem, said: 'The evidence is that this situation at the moment is worse than what it was at the time of Daniel's death'. My brother would be still alive today if they had done their job right — Cathriona McAnaspie Avril Connolly, Daniel's social worker at the time of his death, told the inquest her work with him involved 'considerable firefighting and emergency responding to crisis events'. No longer working in the same area of child protection, she told the inquest: 'I thank God that I don't have to work with children that require secure care currently'. The six-person jury made 13 recommendations aimed at improving outcomes for the most at-risk children in care, including that the State carries out 'a review of its funding to child protection and welfare services delivered by Tusla to ensure that the agency has sufficient resourcing to keep children safe'. Cathriona McAnaspie, Daniel's older sister, said the family thought of him every day. She said: 'He was loving. He was our brother, nephew. He was one of our babies. The HSE has a lot to answer. My brother would be still alive today if they had done their job right. So yes, I am very angry with them and I hope no family will ever, ever have to go through this again, ever.'
Irish Times
13-05-2025
- Irish Times
Murdered teenager Daniel McAnaspie ‘could have been saved' with secure care, inquest hears
Daniel McAnaspie 'could have been saved' if he had been provided secure care, an inquest heard on Tuesday. Aileen Dunne, who was Daniel's guardian ad litem when he was murdered, said it was 'unfathomable' that a special care committee in the HSE had turned down four social-worker applications in 2009 for secure care for him. [ Teenager Daniel McAnespie had begged social workers to 'have him locked up', inquest hears ] A young person who is deemed to be at such risk to themselves or others so as to need therapeutic residential care may be detained in secure care by the High Court following an application by childcare services. The 17-year-old, originally from Finglas, north Dublin, was murdered while in care in 2010. He had had more than 20 care placements in the 15 months before he died as his life became increasingly chaotic. READ MORE These included the now-disused out-of-hours service where young people in care, without a long-term placement, presented at a Garda station at midnight for a bed in a hostel. Daniel, who had been known to care services from birth and was in state care from aged 10, was stabbed to death on February 26th, 2010, at Tolka Valley Park, Dublin 11. His badly decomposed remains were found in a drainage ditch in Co Meath by a farmer almost three months later. Richard Dekker, from Blanchardstown, was sentenced to life in 2017 for his murder. Trevor Noone, then 29 and also from Blanchardstown, was imprisoned for 13 years for manslaughter in 2017 . In July 2022, Dekker, then in his mid-30s, lost his appeal against his conviction . Both were older than Daniel. The inquest, scheduled to run for a week, marks the end of a 15-year legal process for the McAnaspie family. Daniel was the fourth of six children whose father died in December 1996 and mother died in September 2007. Ms Dunne told Meath coroner's court in Trim how in the absence of a secure care placement she had recommended he be sent for therapeutic secure care at Hassela Gotland in Sweden. She said Daniel and his family were in favour of this, but it was opposed by the HSE. 'This boy was running out of options and getting more and more at risk,' Ms Dunne said. 'It was actually frightening to meet him and see the upset, the distress.' He had drug debts and 'seemed to under so much pressure all the time'. 'I don't want any child in this country locked [up], but I do believe in Daniel's head he knew he needed that ... He had this level of impulsivity that he was not able to regulate and he knew that ... He wanted to be contained. He needed someone to keep him safe,' she told the six-person jury. 'At that time, had we secured a placement for him ... it could have saved him. That is the tragedy of it.' Avril Connolly, Daniel's social worker at the time of his death, described efforts 'to keep Daniel safe' from March 2009. Describing him as 'very lost soul, a lost orphaned soul', she said Daniel had 'wit and empathy, sincere love for his family and simple wishes for his future'. Her work with him involved 'considerable firefighting and emergency responding to crisis events' including placement breakdowns, bringing him to hospital and multiple applications for secure care, which he needed 'urgently', she said. She opposed Ms Dunne's recommendation at a District Court hearing in 2009 that Daniel be placed in Hassela Gotland. She said on Tuesday she was not confident it would meet his needs and was concerned about removing him from Ireland and his family. Ms Dunne, describing this as a 'professional difference of opinion', said: 'Daniel was saying: 'I'll give it a go'. It is his voice I am here for.' The hearing continues.
Irish Times
12-05-2025
- Irish Times
Teenager Daniel McAnespie had begged social workers to ‘have him locked up', inquest hears
Teenager Daniel McAnaspie , who was murdered in 2017, had begged social workers to 'have him locked up' in the months before he died, an inquest into his death has heard. The boy, originally from Finglas , had had more than 20 care placements in the 15 months before he died as his life became increasingly chaotic. His social workers made repeated applications to HSE care committee to seek a secure care for him, all of which were refused. The inquest into his death, which is taking place in Co Meath and is scheduled to last a week, heard on Monday that secure-care beds for children at high risk remain 'in crisis', with 150 such children in inappropriate places. [ Garda Kevin Flatley death: Commissioner and colleagues to attend service at Dublin Castle Opens in new window ] Though there are 24 secure-care beds just 15 are operating due to difficulties staffing them which 'not satisfactory when the need is so great', the six-person jury heard. READ MORE Daniel, who had been known to care services from birth and was in State care from aged 10, was stabbed to death on 26th February 2010 at Tolka Vally Park, Dublin 11. His badly decomposed body was found in a drainage ditch in Co Meath by a farmer almost three months later. In April 2017 Richard Dekker, from Blanchardstown, was sentenced to life for his murder. Trevor Noone, Blanchardstown, was imprisoned for 13 years for manslaughter. In July 2022 Dekker lost his appeal against his sentence. Keith Homan, Daniel's social-care worker on 25th February 2010, told coroner Nathaniel Lacey he worked at the residential care home where Daniel had been living for the previous two weeks, on February 25th 2010. He and a colleague dropped Daniel to meet friends in Finglas and arranged to collect him at 9.30pm. When Daniel did not turn up as arranged Mr Homan phoned him, made attempts to find him and had some text contact, the last at 12.05am when he reported Daniel missing. Monday's inquest heard Daniel's father died when he was very young and he experienced neglect. Deborah Talbot, area manager in Dublin north city social work department said Daniel lived with his mother but this ended when he was 10, though he continued to have supervised access with her. 'He was presenting as sad, anxious and worried about his mother'. When she died this 'was impactful on him,' said Ms Talbot. He had a number of care placements, including with family, but his 'exceptional needs' made his behaviour challenging. He engaged in self-harm, had in-patient psychiatric support and had difficulties managing school, she said. 'In the last 15 months of his life had more than 20 placements,' including out-of-hours which he could only access after midnight, said Ms Talbot. 'Throughout this period the HSE applied for secure care which was not approved and considered the appropriateness of an out of jurisdiction placement.' Social worker Aileen Culhane read a letter she wrote to the HSE's special care committee in late April 2009 appealing its decision not to seek secure care for Daniel, in which she said he had come to the office terrified. 'He pleaded with us to have him locked up. He said that he owes over €2,000 to drug dealers.' The following day, 'he presented in a very tired manner. He had spent the previous night in the Mater hospital A & E department.' She said the team 'used to call him the homing pigeon' as he often came to the office to sleep and get clean clothes. He was very keen to learn to read and write. 'We were very fond of Daniel…He was always pleasant and courteous'. Dr. Gerry McCarney, psychiatrist, who saw Daniel about his use of benzodiazepines and cannabis in 2009, said if he had been placed in secure care 'it would have made a big difference'. He added: 'Secure care is a situation where you know [vulnerable young people] are going to remain in a secure environment.' The inquest continues on Tuesday.
