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When does it become neglect?

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  • 26-06-2013 9:48pm
    #1
    ITDept
    Registered Users Posts: 281 ✭✭


    Long story -> short:
    There's a child on our estate who has just gone 4 years of age. The child and their siblings are out running around very late (the other night it was 11:30 p.m.). They're not supervised, except by one of the older siblings who is about 12 years old.

    They're bored and getting up to mischief which is understandable I suppose, but annoying nonetheless. My question is, at what time of night does this count as neglect on the part of the parents? Should I be contacting Welfare or minding my own business?


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    #2
    daddyorchips
    Closed Accounts Posts: 288 ✭✭daddyorchips


    ITDept wrote: »
    Long story -> short:
    There's a child on our estate who has just gone 4 years of age. The child and their siblings are out running around very late (the other night it was 11:30 p.m.). They're not supervised, except by one of the older siblings who is about 12 years old.

    They're bored and getting up to mischief which is understandable I suppose, but annoying nonetheless. My question is, at what time of night does this count as neglect on the part of the parents? Should I be contacting Welfare or minding my own business?

    it becomes neglect when they are walking around in filthy cloths knocking on doors and asking for food and money


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    #3
    Moonbeam
    Moderators, Education Moderators, Society & Culture Moderators Posts: 18,953 Mod ✭✭✭✭Moonbeam


    It depends.
    Where are the parents?
    Is the 12 year old been left to mind the little kids all day?
    Do they look well cared for?


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    #4
    ITDept
    Registered Users Posts: 281 ✭✭ITDept


    daddyorchips wrote: »
    it becomes neglect when they are walking around in filthy cloths knocking on doors and asking for food and money

    They're not begging and they're not filthy. They do the normal stuff - ring the doorbell and run away (all bleedin night), petty vandalism.

    I think the father is out of work and I haven't seen the mother. I know it can be very tough trying to raise kids in these times but the father just seems to feck them out and not give a toss what they're doing.

    The youngest ones have little or no road sense and I'm seriously worried that on a darker evening a car will come round the corner and the driver won't see them / expect them to be sitting in the road.


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    #5
    ted1
    Registered Users Posts: 23,540 ✭✭✭✭ted1


    If they have no black out blinds they may be having a tough time getting the kids to sleep.

    Maybe the kids sleep on later, I wouldn't be to concerned unless it continues when the evenings get darker.


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    #6
    ITDept
    Registered Users Posts: 281 ✭✭ITDept


    Fair enough, I'll mind my own business so.


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    #7
    muckisluck
    Registered Users Posts: 318 ✭✭muckisluck


    ITDept wrote: »
    Fair enough, I'll mind my own business so.

    Why don't you contact the duty social worker in your area and ask advice without giving names. They will tell you whether your concerns are valid or not.


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    #8
    Agent_99
    Registered Users Posts: 918 ✭✭✭Agent_99


    A 12 year old should not be left to mind young kids for any length of time as they will get distracted and bored hence the problems that you are experiencing. I would quietly call the HSE but the likelihood if them doing anything is slim as they will call to the family during the day if they turn up at all and not witness the true problem. But alas nothing will be done until there is a tragedy but for your own heart I would make to call.


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    #9
    ITDept
    Registered Users Posts: 281 ✭✭ITDept


    muckisluck wrote: »
    Why don't you contact the duty social worker in your area and ask advice without giving names. They will tell you whether your concerns are valid or not.

    Actually, that's what I'll do. I don't want to be the one who could have stopped something nasty but didn't - and they'll tell me to mind my own business if I'm being an idiot.


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    #10
    LegacyUser
    Registered Users Posts: 166,026 ✭✭✭✭LegacyUser


    ted1 wrote: »
    If they have no black out blinds they may be having a tough time getting the kids to sleep.

    Maybe the kids sleep on later, I wouldn't be to concerned unless it continues when the evenings get darker.

    Naive


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    #11
    ted1
    Registered Users Posts: 23,540 ✭✭✭✭ted1


    KC1234 wrote: »
    Naive

    Care to expand....


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    #12
    LadyMayBelle
    Registered Users Posts: 5,095 ✭✭✭LadyMayBelle


    ITDept wrote: »
    Long story -> short:
    There's a child on our estate who has just gone 4 years of age. The child and their siblings are out running around very late (the other night it was 11:30 p.m.). They're not supervised, except by one of the older siblings who is about 12 years old.

    They're bored and getting up to mischief which is understandable I suppose, but annoying nonetheless. My question is, at what time of night does this count as neglect on the part of the parents? Should I be contacting Welfare or minding my own business?

    Call a social worker from your local social services. Neglect can be difficult to define, but whether or not these kids 'look' clean or dirty is the obvious neglect sign.. but this bunch are outside without supervison late at night therefore their welfare and safety is being neglected; no harm ringing the social worker for advice. Do ring, OP.


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