Q&A: Apology dispute brings foster home abuse case into focus

Why is a case involving a family which fostered children in the 1980s in the news now?

The case has been in the public domain since last year, but came to prominence again last month following a disagreement at the Dáil Public Accounts Committee, over whether the HSE had officially apologised to the woman known as 'Grace'.

The HSE said it had apologised at a meeting on December 10th, 2015, but at the weekend it admitted it had not.

What are the concerns about the foster home?

There are allegations that children and adults with intellectual disabilities, some of whom are mute, were seriously sexually assaulted at the home. Placements continued despite concerns being raised, and one woman, 'Grace' was left for 13 years after new HSE placements ceased. Grace, who had been placed there in 1989, remained in the home until 2009.

When were the foster placements at the home?

They began in 1983, with the last person removed in 2013. The placements were by the South Eastern Health Board, to provide summer respite services for children with disabilities.

All placements stopped in 1995/6, amid serious concerns about sexual abuse allegations, except for one.

The HSE has identified 47 children or young adults who spent time at the foster home.

Who placed the children in this care facility?

Children were placed there by the then health board (which later became part of the HSE), the Brothers of Charity (who ceased placing children there in the early 1990s) and privately, by their own families.

When were concerns first raised?

Concerns appear to have first been raised in the early 1990s, though those running the home had been subject to concerns by British authorities before the 1980s. One family alleges their daughter was raped anally with implements that have caused internal damage that will shorten her life.

Have there been Garda investigations?

Five files have been sent to DPP since the 1990s, arising out of abuse concerns. There have been no prosecutions. The man thought to have been the main alleged abuser died around 2000.

A Garda investigation into alleged reckless endangerment by HSE officials is ongoing.

Why is the Public Accounts Committee looking at the case?

A whistleblower, advocating for ‘Grace’, brought her concerns about the transparency of the two HSE-commissioned investigations into the case, to the PAC.

Are there other investigations?

Yes. Two HSE-commissioned investigations have been completed.

The first, by Conal Devine, examined the case of Grace and finished in 2012. A second, by consultancy firm Resilience, was commissioned in April 2014,to review all cases placed with the foster home. It was completed in 2015. These two reports cannot be published until the Garda investigations are complete.

A third examination, by Senior Counsel, Conor Dignam, is reviewing these two reports.

It is anticipated his findings, to be finalised by April, will form the basis of the commission of investigation announced by Ms Lynch.