Health workers last night sought to put the four autistic children of a Co Meath couple in State care against the wishes of their parents. The parents, Padraig and Mary O'Hara from Kells, have been giving media interviews this week complaining about the lack of official support as they struggle to look after their children, writes Carl O'Brien, Social Affairs Correspondent
There was a stand-off outside the family's home in Kells last night after gardaí and social workers arrived with a care order seeking to commit the children to health board care.
The O'Haras say they have been fighting to secure basic support and education services for their children for several years and claim to have been neglected by health authorities. However, last night they said they felt they were being "punished" for highlighting the lack of State support for their children in the media.
A spokeswoman for the Health Service Executive (North Eastern Area) declined to comment on the case except to say that under the Childcare Act it had an obligation to ensure the safety and welfare of children. "In the interests of the the parents and the children in this case, we will not be making any further comment."
Last night after negotiations between the family's solicitor and health authorities, the family agreed to voluntarily place their children in respite care for the weekend.
The care order is due to be dealt with in court on Monday.
Mr O'Hara said he was "devastated" at the actions of the health board.
"We were told we had to make a deal or they could legally arrest us for obstructing them in their job. We have been in negotiations with them for the last 11 months over a package of services and dealing generally with the health board for two and half years. Yet now they have been able to get a court order in just six hours."
The O'Hara's oldest son, Fionn (16), suffers from dyslexia. The other four children, Oisín (13), Blaine (9), Seadna (5), Cionnaola (4), suffer from autism.
"Each and every time we've looked for services we are told there's not enough funds. We just do not get a service from the health board," Mr O'Hara said.