Waiting list for industrial schools

A 12-year old boy is currently being held in Summerhill Detention House because there is no room for him in any industrial school in Ireland.

Ms. Gargan, a probation officer, told the Northern Police Court that she had written to nine separate industrial schools but not one had a vacancy for the boy who has been charged with begging. Ms. Gargan told the court that she knew of three other boys who were also waiting for places. She claimed it was 'perfectly useless' to go on with the work of rescue, since there is no place to which they could send the children. In conclusion, she posed the question: 'How are we to do our work?’

Mr McInerney, presiding, responded: 'I know one person who can do nothing, and that is myself.'

The boy was further remanded.