CRUEL CARER LOCKED AUTISTIC BOY IN TOILET AND LEFT HOUSE; EUR50k settlement agreed after 'scandalous treatment'.Byline: AODHAN O'FAOLAIN A CRUEL care worker locked an autistic autistic /au·tis·tic/ (aw-tis´tik) characterized by or pertaining to autism. boy of 11 in a toilet and left the house, a court heard yesterday. A judge said Siobhan Quinn's treatment of little Alex Berry, now 15, was "absolutely scandalous". Alex's parents once treated Quinn as part of their family but can now trust no one to look after their son. Yesterday the High Court approved EUR EUR In currencies, this is the abbreviation for the Euro. Notes: The currency market, also known as the Foreign Exchange market, is the largest financial market in the world, with a daily average volume of over US $1 trillion. 50,000 damages - but neither the HSE HSE House HSE Health and Safety Executive HSE Helsinki School of Economics HSE Hamilton Southeastern (High School) HSE Health, Safety & Environment HSE Higher School of Economics (Moscow, Russia) , nor Northside Home Care Services where Quinn, from Santry, Dublin, worked, admitted liability. Alex's mum Susan said yesterday: "I believe their staff need to be supervised more." The action was taken by Alex, who was 11 at the time of the incident, suing through his parents Peter and Susan of Coolatree Park, Beaumont, North Dublin. Judge John Quirke, in approving the settlement, said that what was being alleged was absolutely scandalous behaviour and a dreadful thing to do. Mr John Fox, for the Berrys, told the judge the HSE provided home support for the plaintiff's family at Quinn's own home through a funding arrangement with Northside Home Care Services. Quinn was employed as a home help for Alex for 15 hours per week. She was engaged by NHCS NHCS National Health Care Survey NHCS Nevis Historical and Conservation Society NHCS nonhostile casualty (US DoD) in this task for two-and-a-half years up to May 2005. Counsel said Alex had been incarcerated incarcerated /in·car·cer·at·ed/ (in-kahr´ser-at?ed) imprisoned; constricted; subjected to incarceration. in·car·cer·at·ed adj. Confined or trapped, as a hernia. in the toilet by his carer carer Noun a person who looks after someone who is ill or old, often a relative: the group offers support for the carers of those with dementia carer n → . He added Alex was entirely dependent on the carer during his stay on her premises and his condition was such that he could not be left alone and needed adult supervision at all times. It was submitted that on May 3 2005, Quinn collected Alex from his maternal grandmother's home at 11am at Castletimon Road and brought him to her own home at Larchill, Santry. Later, the boy's father Peter saw her walking away from Larchill. He was concerned his son was not with her and he drove to her home and as he knocked on the door of the house he saw her returning to the house and subse-quentlhe observed her unlocking the toilet door under the stairs to release his son. He said the boy was in a very distressed state. The HSE denied it was negligent or in breach of duty but claimed the incident occurred because of negligence and breach of duty of Northside Home Care Services. And it held that carer Siobhan Quinn "caused or permitted herself to conduct her duties in a grossly negligent and irresponsible manner". Northside Home Care Services also denied the claims, saying it employed Quinn but denied it was negligent or in breach of duty. It claimed if Alex was caused personal injury it was by reason of the unlawful actions of Ms Quinn who was solely and exclusively liable. Quinn submitted no defence. Irish Mirror Comment: Page 8 CAPTION(S): SOLE BLAME Siobhan Quinn offered no defence ANGUISH Alex Berry's parents Susan and Peter at High Court yesterday |
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