The family of a young brain-damaged Dublin man who has spent almost two years in a hospital in England is calling on health authorities to find a treatment facility in Ireland for him.
The 20-year-old man became the centre of national attention three years ago when he was placed in prison because there was no suitable treatment centre for him here.
The Health Service Executive (HSE) eventually placed him in a special centre in Northampton in August 2005. He was placed there on the basis that he remain there for a maximum of 18 months while appropriate services were sourced in Ireland for him.
Almost two years later, relatives of the young man say he has become extremely frustrated and unhappy with his placement and wants to return home as soon as possible.
"He's withdrawn into himself, he's not capable of doing anything for himself now," one relative said, who asked not to be named. "Whenever he's on the phone he keeps saying he doesn't want to be there. It's non-stop. He wants to see his family.
"We'd like to see him getting looked after at home. It would mean a lot to him. The health board has been providing money for us to go over, which is good, but it's a very long trip."
The young man's solicitor, Sarah Molloy, said she understood there was a disagreement within the HSE over who was responsible for his welfare on his return, which had not yet been resolved.
While major efforts had been made by some individual staff at the HSE, she said it appeared no significant progress had been made in finding a facility.
Ms Molloy said it was appalling that the State was continuing to send some of its most vulnerable citizens to be cared for in other jurisdictions. "We are calling on the HSE to identify and resource a suitable facility for him in this jurisdiction."
The HSE yesterday declined to comment on the case, but said it strove to provide appropriate care services in the most suitable setting possible.
In October 2000, the boy, from a troubled family background in Dublin's inner city, was in a car crash that damaged the part of his brain which controls his cognitive functions. This compounded his existing emotional, learning and behavioural problems.
Over several months from late 2003 he came before the Children's Court in Dublin for minor charges which were regularly adjourned pending efforts to find him a placement in a care facility.
He spent around five weeks in Cloverhill Prison on remand, because nowhere else suitable was available.
Charges for being drunk and disorderly, breach of the peace, attempted theft, assault and criminal damage occurred at a time when he lacked parental support and appropriate medical care, the Children's Court heard. The charges were struck out after it was found he was unfit to plead.
