Minister for Disabilities Anne Rabbitte has demanded the full publication of a report into the alleged abuse of residents of a Donegal care home.
In total, there were 108 alleged sexual assaults committed against 18 people over a 13 year period. Many of the residents were non-verbal and so unable to communicate what was happening to them.
The alleged perpetrator, given the pseudonym Brandon, is now dead.
The Irish Times reports that the unpublished document finds that staff had full knowledge of the “sustained sexual abuse” and that a common strategy used by management was to move the alleged abuser from ward to ward.
Gardaí have asked the HSE not to publish the report in full, a request Minister Anne Rabbitte disagrees with:
“I want it to be clearly put out there exactly how we found ourselves in a situation where there had been 18 victims and 108 incidents.
“And how to ensure that doesn’t happen again. I have seen the report in its entirety. I think it’s a very good report and I think it should be put into the public domain.”
Families
The HSE have recommended that an executive summary of the report should be published. However, the Minister, who met with families in Donegal this week, says that the families also want the report published in full:
“I was very encouraged that all families would like full publication. They would like it once and for all for it to be out in the public domain and to move on.”
Rabbitte says that it’s not fair on staff or families to withhold the report, given how much of it has already been leaked:
“It’s within the gift of the board of the HSE to ensure that it is published. I believe also that a lot of information is out in the public domain at this stage.
“I don’t think it’s fair on families not to have it published. I don’t think it’s fair on the staff.
“It leaves a cloud hanging over people, wondering what else is going to get leaked.
“Put it out there and let’s build on it from there.”
Main image: Two people in a care home hold hands. Picture by: Photo: Jens Kalaene
