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This story is part of a series on the Family Court which can be viewed here>>
A CASE CAME before a judge involving a Traveller family where one of the children was in care. An interim care order was before the court in relation to the boy, but due to behavioural issues, there was concern about the placement.
Extra supports were put in place for the family. The family is in a residential home and a family assessment – as part of the parental capacity assessment – is taking place, the court heard.
The judge was told that the father had left one week into the assessment, but did return.
The father was told that he could not rejoin the family in the residential home as he had chosen to leave. The social worker said that this was a joint decision between the social work department and the residential home.
The social worker for the boy told the court that he had a lot of emotional difficulties and was a “very anxious boy” which often manifested itself as physical pain in his stomach and chest.
Emotional over Dad’s drinking
She told the court that he was very anxious when his father left the home as he knew he had been drinking. “He was very upset as he knows that his Dad could die as a result,” she said.
She said that he had been engaging with the specialist child mental health services.
Speaking about the boy, another social worker said as he is the eldest he worries a lot about his other siblings and whether they will be taken into care.
“He finds it very stressful as he knows his Dad will die if he continues drinking,” she said, adding that he visits his family in the residential home once a week.
The court was told that the facility in which the boy is staying is under threat due to his behavioural difficulties, which are tough for the team to handle, the court was told.
Lit duvet on fire
There are concerns for the boy’s mental health as he has gone missing from the home he was staying on occasion and was also self harming. “He lit his duvet on fire in the middle of the room while he was still in it,” said the social worker.
They added that the boy seems to put his family problems simply down to a housing issue, with social workers saying that “he wants to return home when possible”.
The court was told that another option of him living with a relative was also being explored.
The Child and Family Agency (CFA) said it believed the boy should remain in the residential home he is staying and that a full package of supports be given to him to ensure that he stays there.
The social worker said that the family assessment taking place is “very important” as the “emotional scaffolding” will be needed to support the children, said the social worker.
The court was told that the mother was very co-operative.
The judge said that it “is in the best interests of the child to extend the interim care order until the assessments have been done and then continue on with the existing directions”.
‘A Week in the Family Courts’ series will be running all this week on TheJournal.ie.
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I was hoping Peggy would have been found by now. The weather has been mild enough so hopefully she is ok :(
Will people please get your self over to finglas if you have a spare hour,they need all the help they can get over there.Go to DID in Clearwater anytime day or night,,this lady could be your mam or gran,,,,,PLEASE HELP
I hope people help in the area. I really don’t know the area at all. I know Terenure though. Hope someone find her before it gets dark. She has to have sheltered someone. People need to look at their properties and businesses look at their buildings.
Has anyone ever considered potentially using electronic tagging for poor people like this , i dont know if that a bit extreme but for the elderly sick and children I cant help thinking these things could help ….. maybe a potential business for someone that knows the world of gps etc
And Jonny perhaps you could wear a bell around your neck so people could have time to avoid you.
Most people carry their phones with them -maybe they could be tracked by Gardai in these cases. In a less Orwellian way than your post suggests. Interesting idea though
Lol Dar im thinking more along the lines of a bracelet or something like that , i know in Margrets case it wouldnt make a difference , but a lot of times in the past people have just walked out of nursing homes and kids out of creches etc . I was thinking along the lines of the systems in marernity wards were a tag sets of an alarm when the walk past the front door etc . Basically some little bracelet or some piece of thing kinds like how shops tags set of alarms . Maybe not so much gps … although for a young child I would consider it if it affordable
Whatever device it is would need recharging all the time which kinda leads me back towards a phone. A downloadable app that family members could install On a phone. Protection would be needed to keep the user safe though. You may be onto something I suppose. Some app that would need confirmation from Gardai or the Mobile networks in cases like this to stop criminals misusing it
A while back, MIT were working on GPS shoes, which would be recharged by walking. I don’t know what happened to that.
On my phone dar i have a tracking app that logs the gps when its reported stolen to my insurance company im sure that the same app could easily work in the case of someone going missing there are lots of apps like that about . But how effective they could be for kids and elderly when they wouldnt have phones really .
Most elderly do have phones these days don’t they. Not smartphones as such though -you’re right there. More likely some hideous yoke with big buttons. A type of phone that’s easy to use with built in GPS that a trusted family member could be alerted by email if a person deviated from their normal travel patterns. It would need to be very safe though but the technology is there already. This lady is from Terenure right so being near glasnevin at a late hour could alert a family member who contacts and finds her
There is a watch for elderly people with dementia that has been developed for this very reason. Look at watchie.com
It is being launched soon apparently, looks good
They do that to babies in the maternity hospital so you weren’t far off with your suggestion!!
Looks deadly ashloy. Brilliant, once it’s hacker proof. I wouldn’t want just anyone being able to access data associated with it. Will be a very interesting product when it comes to market.
There is scope for abusing it though. People are still entitled to privacy.
There is a gps watch for those with dementia ..Alzheimer’s
V expensive tho
As far as I can remember think in South Africa I seen you can get a chip put into you. Simlar to the ones they put in pets. I get even if I wernt sick just incase.
There is an app for smart phones for children with disabilities if they get lost or run away so they can be traced by GPS by their carers
I know in the high dependency units in nursing homes the residents get a bracelet or anklet with an alarm on it that goes off if they try to leave the home (if they are prone to wandering). The nurses check them every week to make sure they are still working. Anywhere I have been anyway..
But yes, having something discreet and not heavy would be of benefit to anyone trying to care for someone with Alzheimer’s or dementia, and allow them to retain their independence longer, because they can go out and always be found if they lose their way back. The chips aren’t big, and considering the forecasted rise in these conditions we are faced with – it is something that will most definitely be needed.
Stop bickering and have respect . Guys be extra alert . And let’s hope she turns up soon as each day goes on it’s more heart ache for the family
Well said aisling. There is a persons welfare at stake here and some people are more concerned with bickering.
Not bikering ashling , when things like this happen Its always good to at least discuss or explore ways and means to provent it from happening again to someone else good ideas or bad its only natural for people to find a solution . Of couse it goes without saying that people should be pay extra attention while out and about until that poor lady is found and found well im hoping checking sheds etc before the weather changes espically
Dublin Johnny,
Alzheimer’s as I’m sure you’re aware is a medical condition. All the discussion in the world will not prevent repeats. The lady took her dog for a walk, something she does regularly, do you want to stop her doing that.
This story bothers the hell outta me. Reminds me of that poor old girl that went missing from an old folks home around Christmas a few years back.
Really hope there’s a better outcome here.
Really hope that peggy is found safe and well and I can only imagine what her family are feeling right now. Increase public awareness for Peggy and share this article on your Facebook etc…fingers crossed.
Hope shes ok..
If anyone wants to assist in the search the meeting point is DID Electrical in Clearwater, Finglas. Searches are ongoing.
The turn out this morning was brilliant sadly nothing new to report we searched tolka valley park today and the helicopter was also out Peggy has no money or bus pass or phone with her and as far as we know the dog is still with her. The search is ongoing so if anyone has time call into DID in finglas and there is also updates on the DID Electrical Facebook page.
perhaps if the Garda dog squad were called in to help find the dog, it might help locate poor peggy
GPS would be great for safety, as long as it’s a matter of personal choice.
WARNING girls. Stop editin your photos for facebook. What if you go missin :/
Nice profile pic, really shows off your blue
Idiot.
You are an egg
Just on another note do the Guards etc. Know if she could have had the means (money) to have travelled further via bus etc ?
She hadnt got a purse with her so there assuming she has no money with her
Has the dog been found??
Same thing happened to our family friend, he was out got losted stop a taxi and gave our address by some miracle, we hadn’t seen him in a year. But sad thing was he didn’t know why or were he was. It was lucky he didn get out else were we live 25kms from his home. Maybe ask did anyone see a elderly wonman with out a dog.
In nursing homes They have an ankle braclet that goes off when the patient goes near the door. The doors automatically lock. My gran had Alzheimer’s and she used to wander around the wards a lot . Poor Peggy hope u are found safe and sound. Hope Casper ur dog will get u home .
Like the third reich maybe jonny ?
Shellagh yes like the Nazi and there advanced gps and tracking systems . You phone is constantly tracking you. As i said im not sure on the idea but i know without any doubt that something like this could save lives but on the other hand could easily be taken advantage of . It would be something that would need massive legislation over for use etc.
Wondering why this is not all over the news now. Surely this is an emergency and deserve huge exposure? Please God she is found this morning, there is a large effort to locate her in the general Finglas area, with the search being coordinated in D.I.D Electrical. (Looking for volunteers) #findpeggy
i hope the poor lady is found soon, its so sad to think shes out there alone and frightened
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