The parents of the five children who were returned to them by court order in March, after being taken into care, have asked for political silence on their case until talks on their children's future care have been completed.
Pádraig and Mary O'Hara sent e-mails to both Taoiseach Bertie Ahern and Labour Party leader Pat Rabbitte yesterday asking them to refrain from public discussion on the issue. The parents are in discussions with both Minister for Health Mary Harney and the Health Service Executive (HSE) about a care plan for their five children, four of whom are autistic.
The e-mails came after a day of bitter exchanges between Mr Ahern and Mr Rabbitte yesterday. Mr Rabbitte accused Mr Ahern of quoting from an in-camera court document to put untrue claims about the O'Hara case on the Dáil record.
Mr Ahern told the Dáil last week the children were taken into care by the HSE after "threats that were made on the lives of the children".
Mr Ahern denied quoting from an in- camera document and said he had only spoken about the case after Mr Rabbitte raised it in the Dáil without notice in a "crude and contentious manner".
The HSE sought to place the five children in State care in March. The O'Haras had been giving media interviews at the time complaining about the lack of support services for their children.
Trim District Court ordered the return of the children to their parents.
Ms O'Hara, the mother of the children, said yesterday they were involved in detailed discussions with Ms Harney and the HSE. These are understood to be concerned with agreeing a long-term plan with a view to the future care of their children.
She said she did not wish to have the issue discussed in public at this stage. In the Dáil yesterday, Mr Rabbitte said he understood the HSE was in discussions with the family about a care package.
"Until this is concluded I will not return to yesterday's further misrepresentation by the Taoiseach," he said.
In their e-mail to Mr Ahern and Mr Rabbitte early yesterday, the O'Haras said Ms Harney was trying to help them obtain the necessary support and services from the HSE.