Inquiry into family tragedy to urge better agency co-operation

AN INQUIRY into the deaths of a family of four in Monageer, Co Wexford, in 2007, is expected to call for better co-operation …

AN INQUIRY into the deaths of a family of four in Monageer, Co Wexford, in 2007, is expected to call for better co-operation between State agencies to avoid similar tragedies in the future.

Adrian Dunne (29), his wife Ciara (24), and their children Leanne (5) and Shania (3) were found dead in their home in April 2007. The family had visited an undertaker to arrange how the couple and their children would be buried three days before they died.

An edited version of the report is due to be published by Minister for Children Barry Andrews. It will reveal how State agencies handled the case after concerns about the welfare of the family were flagged.

It is expected to outline how agencies liaised with one another in the days leading up to their deaths, and whether social services were able to offer a response.

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The inquiry, set up in June 2007, began its work in January 2008 following the completion of a Garda report into the incident.

The inquiry team is also instructed to make recommendations to Minister for Health and Children Mary Harney and Minister for Justice Dermot Ahern as to how such an event may be avoided in future.

Mr Andrews received the report last October, although extracts of it have been circulated to relevant bodies and family members over recent months for legal reasons.

The deaths promoted calls from child welfare groups for the establishment of a 24-hour emergency social work service to help deal with crisis cases.

At present, child protection services outside Dublin are only available during office hours.

In the past month, the Government announced plans to establish an emergency foster care service, which would help bring an end to children in crisis situations being placed in inappropriate settings such as Garda stations and acute hospitals.

Carl O'Brien

Carl O'Brien

Carl O'Brien is Education Editor of The Irish Times. He was previously chief reporter and social affairs correspondent