2 teens break out of detention centre

Pair on the run after staff beaten in crowbar attack

TWO teenagers were on the run last night after they launched a violent jailbreak from a juvenile detention centre. The director of Oberstown in Lusk, Co Dublin, and two staff members were beaten with a crow bar in the escape. One of the inmates has since been recaptured but gardai are still hunting for two of them. It is believed the gang viciously assaulted one warder and stole his access key card. They then made their way to a shed and took a sledge hammer and an angle grinder to cut a hole in perimeter fence. The damage forced the closure of one unit with the inmates moved to a different area.

NEGOTIATING

Confirming the breakout, Minister for Children Katherine Zappone said: “There were three young people who took over a staff office. Staff came immediately and were negotiating with them. “Eventually they managed to get out of the office and absconded. They left the campus. “While they were negotiating with the young people the gardai were called. One has been caught. Two are still missing. That is upsetting and disappointing. “There is always a risk for these things to happen but I’m hopeful the young people will be returned.” It is not the first time there has been trouble at the facility. Last November two inmates were involved in a three-hour standoff with gardai. They took a swipe card from a staff member before arming themselves with screwdrivers, blades and drills. The two teenage males made their way to the roof before negotiators talked them down. The centre has also been hit with threats of staff strikes. Earlier this year, it emerged staff at Oberstown are to be given specialist riot gear.