Law is being broken & leaving our children permanently damaged, warns teen campaigner on autism diagnosis delays
AT JUST 14 years old, Cara Darmody has already met three different taoisigh, addressed a Dail committee and won the support of thousands as she campaigns for better autism services.
Last month, the youngster spent 50 hours camped outside the gates of Leinster House as she demands the
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Cara Darmody claims that Micheal Martin is breaking the law
Credit: � 2025 PA Media, All Rights Reserved
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She has two brothers, Neil and John, who have severe and profound intellectual disabilities
Credit: Social Media Collect
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Cara said Micheal Martin wouldn't declare this as a national emergency despite the evidence
Credit: AFP or licensors
Under our current
At the moment, there are 15,000
Here, brave campaigner Cara Darmody tells our readers about the motivation behind her campaign and inside her talks with successive taoisigh that have left her furious.
LET'S cut straight to the chase - I'm here today to call out the blatant Assessments of Needs law-breaking by the Taoiseach and the Government.
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Three different taoisigh have made promises to me to fix this issue, and all have failed.
I'm the 14-year-old
Let me explain how the Government is breaking the law. The Disability Act of 2005 states that an Assessment of Need must be carried out on an
That six-month timeframe is there because every single person knows that early intervention is the key.
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It's also generally accepted that when early intervention doesn't occur, that permanent damage is caused to children with disabilities.
My own story is very simple – while I'm not autistic, I have two brothers, Neil, 12, and John, eight, who are and who have severe and profound
Playing with dolls can help your child's social development – even if they have autism, study finds
They were both failed dramatically by the state in relation to assessments and services; Neil remains in an inappropriate
I cannot do anything to change the permanent damage caused to Neil and John, but I can advocate to stop damage being done to thousands of autistic children in the future.
And this law-breaking by the Government isn't like parking on double yellow lines, where people can simply drive around you.
This is law-breaking that causes permanent damage to autistic children.
'LEFT TO ROT'
Let's look at what's happening in
In County
There are presently more than 15,000 children left to rot on
Shockingly, the HSE revealed that the figure will go up to 25,000 by
The Cabinet is breaking the law, the Taoiseach is breaking the law. I get it that they don't want to hear that kind of criticism, but it's the truth – they are law- breakers when it comes to Assessments of Needs.
It's a sad indictment on our country that if someone asked me to find a location in Ireland where 100 per cent of the people present are breaking a law of some type, then I would go to the Taoiseach's Department on a Tuesday for the Cabinet meeting.
Three weeks ago, I was so grateful to be invited to meet our Taoiseach,
But I was shocked that he wouldn't declare this as a national emergency.
He's breaking the law, and the HSE has now handed him evidence that this crisis is totally out of control, with figures to rise by 10,000 children over the next seven months.
How many does that number have to reach before he declares this as a national emergency? 30,000? 40,000? 50,000?
'TECHNICAL BREACH OF LAW'
So let's look at the Taoiseach's own words – he says that they're 'not in a position to uphold the law.'
He also said that 'It's a technical breach of the law.'
Well, I have news for him - this is not a technical breach of the law, it's total and utter blatant law-breaking.
My message to the Taoiseach today is very simple – immediately declare this as a national emergency, set up a task force to knock on every private psychologist and
Finally…. Taoiseach, Stop breaking the law.
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The children on the Assessment of Needs waiting lists are 'left to rot' as the figures increase
Credit: Getty Images - Getty
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Advertisement 15 Yorkshire ripper Peter Sutcliffe held 'dinner parties' in his cell Credit: Rex 15 Jimmy Savile frequently abused patients at Broadmoor Credit: Rex Features 15 Neil Wheatcroft worked in Broadmoor from 1987 and 2009 Credit: Oliver Dixon Even here, at the dinner table, he was able to strike fear into the heart of seasoned staff at Broadmoor. 'From the very first meal I did with my colleague, you would look across the room and see him sitting round the dinner table - and he's looking back at you,' recounted Neil. Advertisement 'There's absolutely nothing behind his eyes. They were black like death, and not one bit of emotion. 'There are a lot of prisoners in there who have done bad things - but he stood out. 'The others at that table were more affable and appreciative." Bizarrely, despite his horrendous crimes, the serial killer had a And sometimes, they'd even come to Broadmoor to meet him in the flesh. 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'The others would slob about in tracksuit bottoms, but he was always dressed in pristine suits and really smart.' 15 London gangster Ronnie Kray was sent to Broadmoor after being diagnosed with schizophrenia Credit: Getty Advertisement 15 Ronnie Kray's 'aura' was compared to that of Mr Bridger in the classic film, The Italian Job Credit: Rex Features 15 The former head chef and nursing assistant has opened up about his time working in the institution Credit: Oliver Dixon But Ronnie's mind wasn't always as put together as his outfits. 'He would be lucid one day, and then black in the next. 'He had a very, very quick fuse, but it would be equally quick going.' Advertisement Despite these outbursts, Ronnie ended up marrying twice while locked up. His first, in 1985, was to Elaine Mildener, though the couple divorced in 1989. The second was to He sent me a list - on it was quail's eggs, dressed ham, and jellied eels They wed the same year as his divorce from his first wife, tying the knot in a romantic ceremony in the hospital's chapel. But it was down to Neil to look after the celebrations that followed. Advertisement 'He said, what can you give me? And I just said, well, it's your day - what do you want?,' said Neil as he recalled organising his wedding feat. 'He sent me a list - on it was quails' eggs, dressed ham and jellied eels. We also did a whole salmon dressed on a blue aspic base.' Broadmoor boyfriends He added: 'There were about 14 or 15 people there, and a lot of staff. His brothers came in from various establishments. 'They came under escort, would be escorted onto the chapel, and then the reception was up in one of the rooms. 'The wedding was paid upfront - he wasn't short of money.' Advertisement 15 Kate and Ronnie were married in the presence of the other family members, including the twin's older brother Charlie, pictured here with her Credit: Shutterstock 15 East End staple jellied eels were ordered for the wedding feast Credit: Alamy 15 The typical Broadmoor room is stark and functional Credit: Rex Broadmoor staff even discovered a business card in 1985 which revealed that the twins, from separate institutions, were operating a 'bodyguard and protection' business for Hollywood stars while locked up. Ronnie's second marriage also ended in divorce five years later, and he passed away in 1995. Being such a character and having lived in Broadmoor for so long, his death hit hard for a lot of the other patients. Advertisement They were losing a friend - and in some cases, a boyfriend, remembered Neil. Ronnie Kray, who was bisexual, enjoyed same-sex relationships with others in Broadmoor even while married, though all visits were supervised by staff. 'There was only one that was sort of special, though,' said Neil. 'And I'm almost sure his bride knew as well.' Daring escape While Ronnie became accustomed to life on the inside, others had their mind focussed on escape. Advertisement Broadmoor, famously, was surrounded by air-raid sirens that were installed to warn locals if someone had made it out Their frightening howl became a weekly staple for residents living in towns nearby, as the klaxons would be tested every Monday morning. He was actually planning his escape - right down to the finest details Neil Wheatcroft But when the sirens sounded one day in 1991, it wasn't a routine test - a child rapist was on the loose. But he was clever - and devised a complicated plan to ensure others were distracted while he made his way to the outside. Advertisement 'The one that went over the wall wanted to organise a pizza making event in the central hall, on Saturday night,' said Neil. 15 James Saunders was sent to Broadmoor in 1985 Credit: Alamy 15 The child rapist created a distraction to launch his daring escape - before he was found by police in Dorset and escorted back to Broadmoor Credit: Alamy 15 The 'Wolfman' managed to get over two 20ft walls to get to the outside Credit: Alamy 'All the time this was happening, he was actually planning his escape - right down to the finest details. Advertisement 'So, on the Saturday night when we'd put staff members in the hall to dish out the dough so they could have this competition, he was on his way getting ready to go over the wall. 'He'd arranged it purely for the fact that it would mean most people were in the central hall.' Saunders - who was given the nickname 'Wolfman' after living in the wild for three weeks after his escape - then managed to run across the courtyard and over two 20ft high walls to make his getaway. 'When the alarms go off at four o'clock in the morning, and then you realise it's not Monday morning, you just think - oh bugger,' said Neil. 'Everybody had to go up to Broadmoor to sign in and be told where you had to go. Advertisement 'I was on shift from half past four until half past two the next morning.' Notorious inmates past and present BROADMOOR is has housed hundreds of dangerous criminals over the years. Here are some of the other notorious inmates who've spent time inside its walls. Ian Ball tried to kidnap Princess Anne in 1974 while her car was on route to Buckingham Palace. He wanted to hold her for ransom and planned to donate the £3million to the NHS, apparently, he felt mental health services were not good enough. Robert Napper was convicted of murdering young mum Rachel Nickel on Wimbledon Common in July 1992 in front of her young son Alex. He was also previously convicted of the double murder of Samantha Bisset and her daughter Jazmine in 1993. Napper is thought to be the Green Chain Rapist who carried out at least 70 attacks over a four year period. Charles Bronson, also known as Charles Salvador, is often dubbed as Britain's "most violent prisoner". Infamously, while at Broadmoor he staged a three day protest on the roof, causing £250,000 worth of damage. Neo-nazi David Copeland, known as the "London nail bomber", killed three and injured 79 in a series of attacks with homemade nail bombs in the capital across three successive weekends in April 1999. On his diagnosis of paranoid schizophrenia, he was committed to Broadmoor, although his plea of manslaughter by diminished responsibility was not accepted by the jury. Daniel Gonzalez, then 25, murdered four people and injured two across two days in London and Sussex in September 2004. While at Broadmoor awaiting trial, he tried to bite himself to death and was so violent that he was accompanied by officers in riot gear everywhere. He was jailed for life in 2006 and then killed himself in Broadmoor Hospital the year after. Peter Bryan from London killed three people while on release from various mental hospitals. Once detained at Broadmoor, Bryan killed fellow patient Richard Loudwell, 59, and planned to eat him. Bryan is still at Broadmoor and is unlikely to ever be released. Hundreds of cops descended on the area, with some even coming from as far as Aylesbury. But as it turned out, Saunders had in fact made it all the way to Dorset. He was eventually spotted by a policeman walking along a road, with a fishing rod and blanket in hand. Held in Broadmoor ever since, in 2010 a nurse was alleged to have had sexual relations with him in the laundry room. Advertisement
