The 16-year-old girl whose father was jailed last week for torturing, raping and mutilating her and her mother has nowhere to live and spends her days on the streets although the Eastern Regional Health Authority has known of her plight since last year, it has emerged.
Father Peter McVerry SJ, the priest who works with homeless children, said the case highlighted the urgent need for an independent authority to help children and teenagers who had nowhere to live, and for this function to be taken away from the ERHA.
He said the case had "sickened" childcare workers horrified at the ERHA's failure to provide a stable, therapeutic setting for the girl, her brother and her mother. Sources contacted by The Irish Times say it highlights the need for an investigation into the way the ERHA and its three health boards manage social work services.
The ERHA said it could not comment on the cases of individual children. Last week, the Dublin man who raped and tortured the then 14-year-old girl and his wife was jailed for 15 years at the Central Criminal Court. The court heard the mother and daughter were chained to a wall for weeks at a time and refused permission to go to the toilet or to take a shower.
The girl's father slashed both their faces with razor blades, a screwdriver and a saw blade, leaving them scarred for life. He stabbed them with a spike which he kept for punishment. He raped his daughter 24 times and forced her into oral sex. There were several bouts of torture during which he mutilated them and told them they were going to be killed. Their ordeal only ended when they escaped in 1999.
Father McVerry said that instead of placing the family in a stable, therapeutic setting, the health authority had allowed three deeply traumatised people - the mother, daughter and brother - to drift.
Last week the girl told the court that she still suffered flashbacks and could not form a normal sexual relationship. The Irish Times understands the ERHA is considering placing the girl and her brother in a house. It is also understood to be in the course of offering counselling to the girl. Father McVerry said this was a reaction to the embarrassment caused by the exposure of how the authority had failed the family, that it was too late and was no substitute for a proper therapeutic setting.
It is understood the girl presents herself to the ERHA's "out of hours" service every night to seek accommodation and an emergency bed is provided for her. Even during last week's court case she had to seek emergency accommodation. Every morning, she has to leave her emergency accommodation and return to the streets. The girl is said to have serious problems and is considered by childcare professionals to be in grave danger from those who prey on homeless and disturbed children.
Sources say the case illustrates a difficulty faced by childcare workers in getting a comprehensive response from what they see as a top-heavy management structure. Earlier this year, the Eastern Health Board was transformed into three area health boards - each with its own management structure - under an overall authority.
Father McVerry said the recent report of the Forum on Youth Homelessness had recommended an independent authority to deal with youth homelessness. The ERHA had rejected this but the latest case emphasised the need for such an authority.
He said childcare workers were "absolutely horrified" that the girl "has to walk around all day" without getting the help she needs.
pomorain@irish-times.ie