The mother of an autistic boy strapped to a chair in school says she feels “vindicated” after an investigation ruled he was “restrained unnecessarily”.
Deirdre Shakespeare and husband Rodney, from County Tyrone in Northern Ireland, fought a lengthy campaign after autistic son Harry was strapped to the chair at Knockavoe School and Resource Centre, in Strabane, between September 2016 and May 2017.
Deirdre Shakespeare with son Harry. Shakespeare feels vindicated by an ombudsman’s report suggesting her son was unnecessarily restrained
Restraint ‘unnecessary’
In her report, ombudsman Margaret Kelly ruled the restraint was unnecessary. She also said she recognised the “distress” it caused Harry’s mum.
Though he can walk unaided, Harry, 13, used a special chair at meal times in school.
When the school claimed it was having problems moving Harry to the dining room, the Western Health Trust added a wheeled base to the chair.
Vindication
Shakespeare said she and her husband have spent over half of Harry’s life “pursuing the truth to finally give us vindication and put an end to the misrepresentation that has stained our family’s reputation”.
She is now fighting to change the law in Northern Ireland to make it harder for staff to restrain pupils in special schools.
Kelly ruled that in adding a wheeled base to the chair, the Western Health Trust had failed to consider Harry’s “human rights”.
Other reactions
In a statement, the Department of Education said it would review the ombudsman’s report with health officials.
It said it would consider the report as part of new draft guidance scheduled for publication in the 2024/25 school year.
In a statement, the Western Health Trust said it would contact the family to offer “a sincere apology”.
It said it accepted the findings of the ombudsman’s report.
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Published: 3 November 20204
