A 17 YEAR OLD accused of attacking another teenager, and leaving him in a critical condition, was being escorted by two Health Service Executive (HSE) care workers when the incident occured.
The youth was being brought back to a residential care unit in the city by two female HSE staff last Friday night when the alleged attack took place. He asked to stop at the Applegreen garage in Corbally, Limerick, where a 16-year-old boy was assaulted.
The victim was last night at the Mid-Western Regional Hospital where his condition was still described as critical. He is said to have been kicked, punched and stamped on after he was set upon during the assault which lasted for several minutes. The 17 year old, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was arrested at the scene where gardaí discovered the victim with serious head injuries.
Fine Gael health spokesman Dr James Reilly said: “Clearly there is a need for an urgent review of protocols and staffing requirements around children in care, particularly as they reach maturity and could be difficult to restrain. It has to be the case that not alone have they to be prevented from self-harm but they must be in the company of carers who can ensure that the public will not be at risk.”
Labour health spokeswoman Jan O’Sullivan said the circumstances of the attack will add to public concern about the welfare of children in care.
A HSE spokesman said that, under the Childcare Act, they could not comment. On Tuesday, the youth appeared before the Children’s Court in Limerick charged with assault causing serious harm. The court was told he is no longer in HSE care as the service has no suitable accommodation.
He was remanded in custody to St Patrick’s Institute and will appear in the court again on August 18th.