The Head of the Family and Child Agency for the HSE says there was nothing untoward in the locking of doors at a high support unit for vulnerable teenagers in Portrane.
A surprise inspection of Crannog Nua found that corridor doors were locked at 8 o'clock in the evening until 8am the next morning - breaching the teenagers' human rights as well as fire safety regulations.
Gordon Jeyes said the front door of the facility was locked at night for the safety of the 4 children staying at the unit and no internal doors were locked.
He said the practice is not out of line with fire safety policy.
"This has been misrepresented because no internal doors are locked. I think it's entirely appropriate that the front doors are locked," he said.
"It's sometimes represented as if this was my policy, I've endorsed it but it was provided by a professional group of staff. It's completely compliant with fire safety [policy]."
