Mr. Seán Egan:

There is not necessarily no legal recourse. If the Act were amended as several of us are suggesting, it would decree this age of 14. If somebody under this age commits a severe offence there would still be existing recourse under civil law. For instance, children who have done horrific offending could be candidates for special care under the Child Care Act. This would involve a relevant place in terms of a secure care placement for their welfare and for the welfare of the broader community that might be at risk from a child in crisis engaging in dangerous offending behaviour. They would be contained for their own welfare and the welfare of everyone else but it would be outside of a criminal context. This is one attitude. Another element is the Mental Health Act.