Inspectors noted Oberstown escape risk before July breakout

An inspection of the Oberstown detention centre for children identified escape risks posed by construction work at the facility a month before last summer’s high-profile breakout took place.

The north Dublin detention centre received national media attention in July when four teenage boys stole ladders that were being used for construction work, scaled a perimeter fence, and fled.

Three of the four youths - who were aged between 15 and 16- were returned to Oberstown over the following days, and the last escapee to be arrested remained at large until October 13th.

During an unannounced visit over two days in June, inspectors from the Health Information and Quality Authority (Hiqa) noted six incidents of absconsion by young inmates over the first six months of 2015.

Two more escaped from staff outside the campus, and a further six did not return from permitted absences to visit guardians or family.

The report details cases where escapes were made over fences prior to June 17th, and one young person was absent for a total of 16 days before being returned.

According to the report, these incidents were “discussed at all management levels” and were reported to the Irish Youth Justice Service.

“Given that construction is continuing on the campus, there needs to be ongoing robust risk assessment of the potential for absconsion and continued implementation of measures to reduce the likelihood of future incidents taking place,” it added.

The review of services also highlights concerns over the continued use of the single separation method of isolation for young people who committed misdemeanours, and mentions a large increase in the number of complaints made by inmates over the first half of 2015.

Oberstown failed to meet requisite national standards for staffing and management, and significant risks were identified in the area of premises, safety and security. However, governance at the €56 million centre was said to be robust, oversight was good and campus management were praised for their leadership.

There was a high rate of staff absenteeism and morale was said to be low among workers, two-thirds of whom did not have up-to-date child protection training.

Of particular concern was the fact that most young people were oblivious to fire evacuation plans, a matter which management say has since been rectified.

A large increase in the use of single separation was noted, with 1,420 incidences recorded between October 2014 and May 2015.

While saying the method should ideally be applied for as short a time period as possible in cases where a person’s actions present a significant risk to themselves or others, inspectors found that “single separation was used extensively and frequently for long periods of time”.

It was used in response to threatening behaviour and inappropriate language, and one child was confined to their room for four days after they lit up a cigarette in a lounge area.

An inspection last year recorded six complaints by detainees, but this number had risen to almost 60 within the first six months of 2015, many of which remained open and under investigation at the time of the visit.

Issues were also raised in relation to inadequate needs assessments for young people, the variable quality of care plans and inconsistent recording of the administration of some medications.

Hiaq simultaneously released an action plan in which management endeavoured to provide child protection training to all staff by the end of 2015.

There has also been a review of the single separation policy, and a series of recommendations are expected to arise from this.