The Health Service Executive (HSE) was aware of the problems at the Leas Cross nursing home for years, according to a group representing former residents of the home.
The Leas Cross Deaths Relatives Action Group (LCDRAG) also accused the HSE of putting more patients into Leas Cross in 2003 despite being aware of the problems at Leas Cross when St Ita's hospital in Portrane closed.
Speaking earlier today, LCDRAG spokesman Tony Mullins said: "There is ample evidence in writing that the HSE was aware of all the problems at Leas Cross, and the problems were of the most serious kind, ie were leading to the frequent premature deaths of patients in the care of the home."
Mr Mullins added that none of the members of the group had been questioned by the HSE when it was carrying out its investigations into Leas Cross. Many of the investigations into Leas cross since 1998 were triggered by complaints from relatives of residents there.
"Everything has been done except talking to the people who made the complaints. No one has asked us anything," said Michael Hegarty, the group's legal adviser.
This month's HSE-commissioned report by Prof Des O'Neill into the Leas Cross nursing home concluded that the level of care provided to residents constituted "institutional abuse".
It says there was a steady rise in the one-year mortality rate from 1998 to 2000 and that subsequently it stabilised at 38 to 39 per cent.
The LCDREG said they did not accept the HSE's view that the problems at Leas Cross were systematic. They said someone should be held accountable.
They also accused the HSE of lying to relatives of patients and that they had sent evidence of this to the gardaí.