by Andrew Carey
andrew
CHILDREN were put at risk of serious injury at Limerick court this week as 22 prisoners, some of whom were described as violent and psychiatric gang members, were held in custody as the Children’s Court was about to start.
The danger to the young children was highlighted by Judge Eugene O’Kelly who said they would be hurt or seriously injured if the inadequate facilities at the Limerick Court buildings were not immediately addressed.
He was speaking after the Tuesday afternoon sitting of the Children’s Court was delayed by a number of hours because of the the high number of adult cases listed for the morning session. 22 prisoners were still being held in the two cell holding area of the judicial buildings as juvenile detainees arrived for their cases.
Judge O’Kelly said that for the second week in a row the inadequacies of the District Court building presented a significant danger to its occupants.
“It is entirely inappropriate and unsuitable for juveniles and children coming before the court to see and experience this.”
“It is dangerous and unsatisfactory that the volume of the work before the court is such that the sitting of the Children’s court is delayed and now distracted by the presence of these prisoners in a two-cell holding area”.
“It won’t be long before a child gets hurt or a solicitor takes an action against the State for exposing children to such circumstances”.
Stressing that his comments were not intended as criticism of the gardaí or the court staff, Judge O’Kelly told Sgt Donal Cronin that “the court gardaí are doing the best they can with the resources available”.
He said that last week the holding area was accommodating 17 prisoners with gardaí trying to separate female prisoners from males behaving violently. We also had some handcuffed to railings. We had psychiatric prisoners, members of feuding gangs and all in the presence of some juvenile detainees.”
Stating that he agreed with Judge O’Kelly’s comments, Sgt. Cronin said a multi-agency approach was needed to resolving the problem. He added that he would pass the judge’s sentiments “up the line”.
As prisoners in the holding area continued to disrupt the court, Judge O’Kelly complained that this was happening every week.
“There should be a separate court for children as they are currently being exposed to these scenes and held in overcrowded cells. It is entirely unacceptable and a child will get hurt or a solicitor may take an action against the State for exposing children to this.
He called for a more suitable venue to be provided and said that The Court Service was “aware of the problem, but they didn’t seem to be doing anything about it”.
During the same court sitting, legal aid defence solicitor Sarah Ryan expressed her grave concerns at the continued use of St Patrick’s Institution for the detention of young offenders between 18 and 21 years of age.
When an 18-year-old defendant she was representing was remanded to St Patrick’s, she said it “is nothing more than a factory for criminals. They go in their as easily influenced young children and come out as criminals.”
Stating that her client had turned 18 years of age earlier this month, Ms Ryan asked that remand be to Limerick Prison and not the Dublin juvenile facility.
St. Patrick’s is, for all intent and purpose, Ireland’s answer to a warehouse for criminals.
“It is my opinion, and I am sure some would differ with me on that, but I have huge reservations and concerns about that place,”she added.
