East Coast Area Health Board v. O' Donovan (A Minor)

No such facility was available within this State. The best that could be offered was Newtown House. That institution was sought to be made as secure as possible to try and accommodate Kim and other children with needs similar to her. She was therefore committed there notwithstanding its shortcomings. Despite them it was far better for her to be there than to continue what was described by one of the psychiatrists as her 'chaotic' way of life.

Kim's adoptive mother was joined as respondent to these proceedings and did not object to such an order being made. It is right that I should record that despite the very best and sustained efforts of her adoptive parents, Dr and Mrs O'Donovan, to provide Kim with a decent comfortable and loving home her behavioural problems rendered their efforts fruitless.

At the time of her first detention in Newtown House Kim was fourteen years of age.

Her case was reviewed on a regular basis by this court. Again it is not necessary to recite in detail the many unhappy events which were reported to the court on these review hearings. Kim absconded from time to time, engaged in disturbances at Newtown, assaulted members of staff and inflicted injury on them and on herself. On the occasions when she escaped she engaged in activities which undoubtedly placed her health, welfare and indeed her life in danger.

Notwithstanding all of this however, she appeared to make progress and began to achieve both academically and in the field of music for which she had an undoubted talent.