Enda Kenny apologises to families of Roma children taken into care

Taoiseach Enda Kenny has apologised on behalf of the State to the Roma families whose children were taken into care last year amid fears they had been abducted.

He was responding in the Dáil today to Sinn Féin leader Gerry Adams who suggested he apologise "as a gesture to those people who have come to our shores, particularly those who have suffered this injustice''.

Mr Kenny replied he did not have difficulty in doing so.

“I do apologise to those families, particularly the children who had to put up with these events,’’ he added.

The Taoiseach was speaking before the publication of the report by Ombudsman for Children Emily Logan today.

“These kind of events should not happen to anybody in our jurisdiction, and nobody can afford to stand over that or can stand over it,’’ he added.

The Taoiseach said it was important to recognise that progress had been made in that those people coming to Ireland, who wanted to become Irish citizens, were formally given the opportunity at an official civil ceremony.

Minister for Justice Frances Fitzgerald met with the families privately on the back of the findings to apologise.

“We are sorry. We regret the pain they went through. It should not have happened. It just should not,” she said.

“It happened out of a determination to protect children, but that determination got skewed. “The best of intentions played out in a distressing manner affecting two children and two families.”

Acting Garda Commissioner Nóirín O’Sullivan said “every parent in the country” could identify with the distress the two Roma families experienced when their children were removed under section 12 of the Child Care Act, 1991.

Offering her own apologies to the families, Ms O’Sullivan said she was not apologising for any hurt that “might” have been experienced.

“Hurt was experienced and it’s important not just to apologise on behalf of the police service, but to express the concerns of each of our members over what happened.

“Because we in An Garda Síochána are all about protecting vulnerable children. We really are.”

The commissioner said the men and women of the force worked every day in partnership with the Child and Family Agency, the HSE and other agencies to keep children safe

The focus was on “protecting the welfare of the child in accordance with relevant statutory provisions and obligations”.

“We take extremely seriously all reports received from members of the public concerning child welfare issues,” she said.

The decision to remove any child from its family under section 12 of the Child Care Act 1991 was “ not one members of An Garda Síochána ever take lightly”.

Ms O’Sullivan added: “In order to protect children, such decisions often have to be made quickly, in highly pressurised, stressful and unusual situations, and with imperfect information.

“That’s what happened in these cases: gardaí set out to protect children - and the unintended consequences were distressing.”

The commissioner noted the Ombudsman’s report acknowledged that the members involved believed they were acting in the best interests of the children.

“That’s not an excuse. It’s a reality. As is the fact that something along these lines mustn’t ever happen again. Lessons must, and will, be learnt.”

An Garda Síochána would “speedily implement the recommendations” in the Ombudsman’s report that were within its control.