Ria is 15 years old and is the youngest of five children. She lives in Castlebar with her Mum and stepdad Terry. Her sister Joan is 18 years and is a student in Sligo IT and her other sister Maura aged 21 has two children aged 1 1/2 and three years. Mark is Terry’s son who is 22 and is currently serving a three-year prison sentence for a litany of offences. Susan, Terry’s other child is 16 and lives with them also. She attends the same secondary school as Ria. Step Dad Terry is unemployed and Ria’s mum Mary works part-time as a home help.

Ria’s biological father now resides in England following a marital breakdown when Ria was 11 years old. Ria and her sisters have sporadic contact with their biological father and this causes conflict in the home.

Maura has recently moved back from Longford with her two children following a break-up with her partner.