NT government drops counter-claims against boy prisoners over Don Dale incident
The Northern Territory government has dropped its counter-suits against two boys who appeared in footage shown on an ABC program about abuse at Darwin's Don Dale juvenile detention centre.
Chief Minister Adam Giles' office confirmed the government was dropping its counter-claims only hours after they were announced, the ABC reports.
But Mr Giles added he would be standing up for territorians and would not settle the six cases brought against them.
"I'm standing up for Territorians. I don't believe taxpayer money should be going towards windfall payouts to prisoners," Mr Giles said.
His office told the ABC the costs of settlement could reach $250,000 per plaintiff.
Just hours earlier the government was alleging the two former inmates caused more than $160,000 damage during an escape from juvenile detention in June last year, and when they allegedly stole a car and rammed it back through the front roller door of the facility.
The pair were part of the group of six boys being held in the behaviour management unit at Don Dale who were tear-gassed when another boy managed to get out of his cell. The footage was shown on the Four Corners program on Monday night.
Dylan Voller was strapped to a restraint chair, shackled and hooded. Photo: ABC
Four guards restrain the teenager at the Don Dale Detention Centre. Photo: ABC
In court documents the government alleges that during the escape the boys damaged or destroyed electronics and computers, used a fire hose to flood rooms and corridors, applied paint over walls and destroyed or damaged furniture, ceilings, walls and doors causing $89,000 damage.
A further $74,000 was caused two days later when the pair drove a stolen car into the inner roller door at Don Dale, the government claims.
The boys in this case, whose names have been suppressed by the NT Supreme Court, filed papers in June seeking damages for alleged mistreatment by Don Dale staff.
They claim the use of tear gas to quell the disturbance at the centre was reckless and without justification and was intended to cause harm.
Their damages claim also relates to being sprayed with high pressure hoses and the use of handcuffs inside a prison vehicle which they argue constituted an assault.
The boys are seeking general, aggravated and exemplary damages to be assessed by the court.
A still taken from the 2014 video of six teens being gassed in the centre's isolation wing. Photo: ABC
The boys were taken outside and hosed off after being gassed. Photo: ABC
In other court action related to the Don Dale centre, Darwin lawyer Peter O'Brien earlier this week announced he is suing the NT government on behalf of Dylan Voller, now 18, and a 16-year-old boy.
Guards were shown stripping, tear gassing, hog-tying and assaulting Mr Voller. The other boy was also tear gassed.
Statements of claim filed with the Supreme Court in March and April allege Mr Voller and the boy were unlawfully detained and assaulted.
They say in August, 2014 Mr Voller and the boy were sprayed with tear gas and the use of such gas was excessive.
The boys have also asked the court to assess the level of damages.
