Aontú Leader and Meath West TD Peadar Tóibín has called on the Minister for Children to provide answers as to why the suspect in the murder of Vadym Davydenko was placed in a children’s residential care unit. An Teachta Tóibín stated:
“It has come to our knowledge that the suspect in the murder of Vadym Davydenko may well be an adult. We understand that there is documentary evidence to show that the suspect is an adult. We also understand that there are physical tests being undertaken on the suspect that may well show that he is an adult. If this is the case there are serious questions to be answered as to the ability of the International Protection system to identify those who seek asylum in this country. We are being told by the IPAS services that the identity and the background of each individual is known. That is clearly not the case.
There are serious questions here also for the Minister for Children. This is not the first time adults have been placed in accommodation for unaccompanied minors. There is a massive child protection question here. If any other organisation were placing adults in children’s accommodation Tusla themselves would have major problems with it.
The Minister for Justice and the Minister for Children must address these significant shortfalls in the system immediately”
