Guard at youth jail fails to win back job

A FORMER Cleveland Youth Detention Centre guard who made allegations of mistreatment at the facility has failed in an attempt to apply for reinstatement.

Jeffery Ingram went to the Queensland Industrial Relations Court this month seeking extra time to apply to be reinstated to his job.

Mr Ingram spoke to the ABC in 2016 as part of a Four Corners investigation into allegations of violence within detention centres, after he was dismissed from his position at the Cleveland Youth Detention Centre on July 15, 2016.

Mr Ingram applied to be reinstated on December 14, 2016.

But his application was denied by Deputy President Daniel O’Connor, who said the 21- day time limit to apply for reinstatement “should only be departed from in the most compelling of circumstances” and this was “not such a case”.

Mr Ingram had been suspended over allegations that he had provided restricted items to detainees and engaged in inappropriate physical interaction with an inmate.

He was dismissed after an investigation into the allegations.

The Queensland Industrial Relations Commission was provided with a report from consultant psychologist Dr Wasim Shaikh, which argued Ingram showed signs of depression and would not have been in the right frame of mind to submit his application during the limitation period.

But the Crown pointed out Mr Ingram was able to take part in a radio interview, appear on the television program 7: 30, provide commentary on website The New Daily, provide instructions to a lawyer, send emails in relation to his final pay slips and separation certificate, email the Department of Justice’s Ethical Standards Unit and the Premier and make a written complaint to the Queensland Ombudsman before he filed an application.