FAMILIES OF children who died while in State care are planning to hold a protest march through the centre of Dublin next week, bearing aloft the images of loved ones who died or who suffered neglect.
At least 21 troubled young people have died in the care of the State over the past decade, around half of them in brutal or controversial circumstances.
Sandra Lamb and her sister Donna, who have been organising the march for the past month, say the protest is aimed at highlighting the plight of these “forgotten children” and others who remain at risk.
Their nephew Danny Talbot (19) died during the summer from a suspected drugs overdose. He spent most of his life in the care system and was in receipt of aftercare from the Health Service Executive when he died of a drugs overdose.
“This march is for all those who have been forgotten by the health boards and for those who haven’t got a voice and aren’t being heard. There are so many vulnerable young people out there at risk, but no one seems to be listening,” said Sandra Lamb.
“When young people enter the care system, the State is supposed to act as their parent.
“But it’s failing so many of them. I think the whole system is a disgrace. When something goes wrong, everything is being brushed under the carpet. There’s no accountability.”
The march, from Eden Quay – close to one of the “out of hours” hostels for young people in care – to Leinster House is due to take place at 11am next Tuesday.
They plan to hand over a letter of protest to the Minister of State for Children Barry Andrews and demand that the system be changed to protect other vulnerable young people from being placed at ongoing risk.
Families of other young people who have died in the care system, as well as care workers and others dealing with young people at risk, are expected to take part in the march.
Much of their frustration centres on the continuing use of hostels for young people in care, known as the “out of hours” service.
The system was initially designed to be a short-term measure for homeless children or those without a stable care placement, but some young people have ended up spending years in the system.
Danny, like other vulnerable children, spent time in this environment, eventually drifting into its brutal sub-culture of crime, drugs and substance abuse. Despite the best efforts of individual social workers, his behaviour deteriorated.
“It’s no place for children. You can’t kick children out on the streets at 9.30am in the morning, leave them to roam around the city all day, and not expect them to get into trouble,” said Donna Lamb.
“We were pleading for a more secure form of care for Danny when he was alive, but we never got it.”
His mother Lynda who also died in distressing circumstances is featured in the posters. There are imaages of o other young people who died in the care system, including David Foley (16) and Tracey Fay (18), as well as banners with slogan such as, “How many more will die?” and “Minister, where are your reports into child deaths?”.
Over the past month Sandra and her family have been handing out flyers. It has been a disturbing journey of discovery into an underbelly of the city that most peole rarely see.“We’ve come across children in care hanging out in the inner city, on the boardwalk, stoned out of their heads...... You wonder what kind of a life they have ahead of them? It breaks your heart to see it,” said Sandra.
