Kerry teen kept in his room ‘on an ongoing basis’ during Oberstown ‘turmoil’, solicitor tells court
The KerrymanA solicitor has secured the release of a Kerry teenager from custody at Oberstown Children Detention Centre where, he says, children were “kept in their rooms on an ongoing basis” due to a staffing dispute.
The teenager appeared before Judge Darach McCarthy at Tralee District Court for a bail hearing on Thursday, August 27.
“There’s a certain amount of turmoil in Oberstown at the moment,” solicitor Padraig O’Connell told the judge. “They’re kept in their rooms on an ongoing basis.”
Members of Fórsa trade union organised escalating work stoppages at the Dublin facility this month over staffing levels, protesting with placards that urge Kerry TD and Minister for Children Norma Foley to ‘protect your staff’.
They announced a 48-hour strike will begin on August 31. Oberstown has issued a statement saying the escalation creates “a direct and unacceptable risk to the safety, security and wellbeing of staff, young people and all those on campus”, RTE reported.
The teen stayed in Oberstown from September 2025 until early February, when he was released on bail into Tusla care.
Following his release, he has been reported missing 104 times and for a period of nearly two months, the court heard.
“That directly contradictions his bail conditions,” testified a garda.
If granted bail again, she said, it was believed he would “not abide by any conditions”.
According to a Tusla worker, the boy “not fully engaged” with programmes required in his bail conditions, she told the court.
The solicitor put it to the garda that the boy was “fully engaging with training and educational supports and fully engaging with addiction services”.
State objections to bail included the serious nature of his charges.
The teen has pleaded guilty to 11 charges, including five for possession of drugs, possession of drugs for sale and supply, assault, possession of an offensive weapon, and the production of an article intended to cause injury in a dispute.
Earlier this month, he was charged with two counts of money laundering in March and April 2025.
“His attendance in the care placement is minimal,” a residence manager told the court.
He noted multiple missing persons reports could be filed in one day.
He added, “It’s a case of him missing for extremely long periods.”
He said he had been told the boy had not engaged with addiction services and he had “no knowledge” of his engagement with education programmes.
Mr O’Connell asked him if he had evidence to support this.
“Social workers have briefed me with everything that’s going on,” he responded.
He noted the boy’s interaction with staff was positive and he was “a nice young man”.
The boy was taken into custody in Cork last Monday, August 17 and appeared in person at Tralee District Court three days later.
Mr O’Connell noted his client had entered a plea on all matters and expressed concern that his case be resolved before he turned 18.
The judge granted the teen’s release on bail, noting the “industrial issues in Oberstown at the moment”.
He also noted a significant period had passed since the boy’s last criminal charge and an obligation under the Children’s Act to consider all options, with detention as a last resort. He noted Mr O’Connell’s work.
Court Presenter Sgt Stephen O’Brien suggested terms of bail. The boy is to reside at the Tusla-provided address, maintain a curfew from 9pm to 9am and have no contact with witnesses or injured parties. Sgt O’Brien said the teenager had ‘no regard’ for previous bail conditions and so recommended a daily sign-on at Tralee Garda Station. The judge agreed.
The case was adjourned to Wednesday, September 2 to fix a date before Judge David Waters for the two new charges.
Judge McCarthy then asked the boy to stand and spoke to him directly. He noted he ‘had not been in trouble to a criminal standard’ for a long time and stressed he would likely return to Oberstown if he did not abide by the bail terms.
“It’s not a nice place to be at the moment,” said Judge McCarthy.
He told the boy his interests were “best served” at his present accommodation “with the people who are trying to help you”.
Finally, he warned him that breaching bail could delay matters.
“The sooner you start behaving and sticking to the rules, including house rules, the better for you,” said the judge. “So don’t let me down.”
Then he added, “It’s good chatting to you today. Don’t let yourself down, more than anything else.”