Statistics paint bleak picture of young lives behind bars

OBERSTOWN has had a troubled history in its short lifetime.

Statistics from the centre paint a bleak picture of the descent of teenagers into the revolving door of detention.

Nearly half of all 45 juveniles detained last December had been in care beforehand. Some 54% had also suffered the loss of one or both parents, either through death, imprisonment or no long-term contact.

There were child protection concerns for eight young people, and 21 young people had a social worker. Of the 44 males and one female in detention, 19 were accused of multiple charges of theft and fraud, 18 of assault, nine of criminal damage and seven of road traffic offences. Thirty-three juveniles had been in detention previously, or some 73%. Most are Irish nationals, including 11 Travellers, one EU national and one ‘of another ethnicity’.

Mental health issues also posed a concern for 22 detainees, with 29 recorded as having misused alcohol and/or drugs previously.