Anger at 'eight-month' abuse probe report that took eight years

By BRIAN MCDONALD
Friday April 10 2009

A report into more than 30 years of abuse perpetrated by Brothers of Charity on children with intellectual disabilities which was supposed to take eight months to complete, ended up taking eight years.

All but one member of the original report team had quit after two years, while there were arguments over resources and the six-member team did not have the necessary skills or supports required.

The inquiry was slammed as "unsatisfactory and chaotic", by opposition spokesman Alan Shatter, while Inclusion Ireland said the delay was unacceptable and had added to the pain and suffering of those abused.

The damning report, which was eventually published in December 2007, outlined a nightmare of physical and sexual abuse endured by children at the Holy Family Special School and Woodlands Centre at Renmore in Galway and at the Kilcornan Centre for young adults in Clarenbridge between 1965 and 1988.

At the time it was published, the Brothers of Charity acknowledged the "awfulness" of the abuse -- it included rape and flogging -- and offered sincere apologies to all those who had suffered.

At the launch of the report in December 2007, the HSE National Director for Primary, Community and Continuing Care, Laverne McGuinness, agreed that there had been an undue delay in completing its findings -- the inquiry team had been established by the Western Health Board in April, 1999.
The Department of Health and Children ordered an independent report into the causes of the delay in publishing the findings.

Yesterday that report was published by Junior Minister at the Department of Health and Children, John Moloney. It was drawn up out by John Hynes, former Secretary General of the Dept of Social and Family Affairs.
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What lessons are learnt after Galway Abuse Report?
– Inclusion Ireland

The Hynes Review published today on the 8 year delay in the McCoy report on abuse in a service for people with a disability in Galway, cites lack of supports as major issue in delay;
Adults and children with a disability remain at risk as there is still no independent inspection and regulation of residential services for people with a disability, ..

Disability Minister John Moloney today said “safety and protection of citizens who are receiving services by or on behalf of the State is of paramount importance”, but three weeks ago at Inclusion Ireland’s AGM, he said standards for services would not be introduced in 2009 or 2010.

The Hynes Review into the eight year delay in publishing the McCoy report was released today (Thursday 8th April).
The McCoy report detailed 33 years of abuse between 1965 and 1998. A lack of resources and support was cited in today’s report as a major factor in the delay. Inclusion Ireland says every support should have been made available to the inquiry team. It is also noted that the inquiry was non-statutory, so could not compel witnesses and had to rely on voluntary co-operation. A major report such as this should have been statutory.

Inclusion Ireland CEO Deirdre Carroll says:

“We are angry because as an organisation we have been calling for the introduction of national standards and inspection of residential centres and community homes for children and adults with disabilities since the mid-1990s and nothing has been done. There are currently nearly 400 children with disabilities living in residential settings, whose homes are not inspected and where there are no national care standards applicable. These children are among the most vulnerable in society, yet we offer them less protection than other children at risk.

For example, children in care have their homes independently inspected against national standards under the Children’s Acts. Children with an intellectual disability have no such protection.

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