'Brothers must leave unit'- say parents

The McDermott brothers are at the centre of a child sex abuse scandal that has rocked the Fermanagh village of Donagh, and voluntarily admitted themselves to the unit at the end of last week because they were considered 'at risk'. They are responsible for a litany of offences spanning over three decades, however, a judge has ruled that both brothers are mentally unfit to stand trial.

On Monday evening an emotional meeting took place in the Destined offices at Francis Street. Yesterday the manager, Dermot O'Hara, said parents intend to quiz Trust officials about the process which permitted the paedophile brothers to end up on a ward populated by vulnerable patients, some of whom had mental ages of four or five.

"People are all greatly concerned about the situation in the ward in Lakeview," he said.

"There was a unanimous census of opinion among those who attended the meeting and from the majority of parents with family members in hospital that they want the two brothers removed. The meeting was very emotional, which reflects the concern felt."

Asked what the next step was, Mr O'Hara said: "We have a meeting with the Trust on Friday morning, when we will spell out the range of issues and questions that need clarified. The main issue is the amount of contact the brothers, coming from that kind of background, have with people, and how they end up in a ward with very young people. What was the process that allowed this to happen?"

Mr O'Hara said he expected the Trust to be "open and honest", adding: "Ultimately we are hoping that the Trust will acceed to the parents' request that these two people are removed".

Margaret Pollock, from the Ballykelly area, who has a 35-year-old daughter in the facility, who has Autistic Spectrum Tendencies, said on BBC yesterday her daughter had the understanding of a 12-year-old, and would not be able to make decisions for herself.

"I just think my daughter has not committed a crime and not one of those children in Lakeview has committed a crime and they really need help. They are very vulnerable adults and these men have committed a crime so this is not the place for them to be," she said, adding: "We don't want them there."

The anxious mother said she came face-to-face with the brothers on Sunday when they were in the sittingroom with her daughter.

"I came home and I was very very annoyed. I cried," she said.

Meanwhile, When news of the brothers' admission broke Teresa McGuinness from Greysteel said she was considering removing her 21-year-old special needs son to ensure his safety. She said she had also been advised not to bring her young grandchildren onto the ward for visits.

Mrs McGuinness said she was shocked at the discovery while on her evening visit to her son on Thursday.

Hitting out at the decision to place the sex offenders on the same ward as her vulnerable son, Mrs McGuinness said: "Whoever in the health trust decided to admit these two men to Colm's ward, or even to Gransha Hospital, obviously didn't take into consideration the safety of vulnerable patients and their younger family members.

"If the courts have decided that they're not fit to live in the community, how can they be fit to live among vulnerable patients?

"I know these McDermott brothers need care as well, but where they are is not the right environment for them where they're able to mix with other patients", she said.

"I just froze in my steps when I saw one of the McDermott brothers on the same ward as Colm. My son has severe learning difficulties and he has the mental age of a five year-old boy. He's been in the hospital for the last two-and-a-half years because he needs constant medical attention which he can't get at home.

"Colm loves visits from his young nephews and nieces. He relates to them really well and I know he'll miss them not being allowed to visit him as long as the McDermotts are there. It's an infringement of my son's human rights.

"Colm has always received the best of care in the hospital but now as a mother I'm really concerned for his safety. I feel so strongly about it that I'm considering taking Colm home even through he needs care all day every day."

A spokesperson for the Western Health and Social Care Trust said their primary concern was the safety and welfare of all patients.

"The Trust respects all patients' right to privacy and will not comment on individuals due to confidentiality. However if anyone has any concerns about their care or treatment we would encourage them to discuss this directly with a members of staff. The public should be assured that on an ongoing basis the Trust assesses and manages safety and where necessary implements safeguarding measures to ensure the protection of all children and vulnerable adults in our care", the spokesman said.