County Derry mum 'at breaking point' over lack of support and respite for her teenage son

A County Derry mum has said that she feels her teenage son has been neglected by the Northern Health and Social Care Trust following a major decline in his ‘challenging and anti-social behaviour’.

Cherisse Lanigan’s 16 year-old son Callan was admitted to Antrim Area Hospital on Sunday (May 5) following a decline in his behaviour.

The Draperstown woman says they spent the past three days in a hospital room where she feels her son did not receive the care he needs.

Cherisse says her son, who was diagnosed with Autism at the age of two, needs ‘specialist intervention from a team that are willing and qualified enough to understand the seriousness of the situation’ which she says is ‘a long-term worry’. 

However she feels they are being denied that support from the Northern Trust. 

Cherisse said she decided to take her son to hospital for treatment as he had attempted to jump out of a window and stated that he wanted to end his life.

She says she is not satisfied with the treatment he received while in hospital.

Over the years Ms Lanigan has been in touch with Social Services and CAMHS (Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services) however she claims she is not satisfied with the treatment they have received over the years.

She feels both she and her son, who has now been discharged from hospital, are at ‘serious risk of harm’. 

“Because they (Northern Trust) cannot find me appropriate support or respite, we were more or less confined to a hospital room because I refused to just come home and get on with it,” she said.

“I was told if I say I cannot cope any more and leave Callan here that I am potentially abandoning him in the eyes of the law. Do I let them put my child in care because there is no service to help?

“Other than the intervention from the behaviour support worker yesterday, I feel that I wouldn’t have been able to return home,” said Cherisse, who tragically lost her mum, who was ‘a massive support line to her’, in 2021.

Cherisse believes that Callan has a learning disability and other psychiatric issues which have not been diagnosed and despite having a high IQ, the teenager is ‘violent, volatile and lashes out as he is not aware of what is appropriate or inappropriate’.

“He has no service that has fully understood his needs or my needs,” Cherisse continued.

“The Trust is being completely negligent toward my family, it’s an absolute red flag scenario.”

Noreen McEldowney, Ballinascreen based Aontú representative, says Ms Lanigan is at ‘breaking point’.

“I recently attended a meeting with Cherisse and members of the Social Services team and CAHMS,” said Mrs McEldowney.

“At this meeting it was clearly conveyed that Cherisse was at breaking point. She explained that her son’s behaviour had deteriorated and that she was struggling with the lack of support and respite being provided. From that meeting, although active steps were taken to address the issues of foster care and respite for Cherisse, none as of yet have resulted in a long term placement for Callan, he’s getting respite this weekend but after that she knows nothing.

"Cherisse continually pleaded at this meeting that if something isn’t done immediately someone could get hurt. Just this weekend her son made active threats of suicide.

ABOVE: Aontú representative Noreen McEldowney has been assisting the Lanigans.

“Because of the seriousness of those threats Cherisse had no other option but to bring her son to A&E,” explained Mrs McEldowney.

“My heart aches for them both. Cherisse is at her wits end. She and Callan are being completely let down by the system and it simply isn’t good enough. If appropriate action isn’t taken immediately someone could get seriously hurt, for me that is my biggest concern.”

Mrs McEldowney, a solicitor, has also advised Ms Lanigan to seek legal representation.

A spokesperson for the Northern Health and Social Care Trust said: “We are providing care and support to Callan and his family. A robust support plan is in place to meet Callan's identified needs and includes an offer of respite.”