The Government is to review all emergency out-of-hours services for children amid persistent fears that large swathes of the country don’t have the supports to protect minors from “barbaric treatment” in the home.

Away from the harrowing personal stories, the audit shows the reasons why many children are removed from their home - the dangers posed to their health and wellbeing either because of their own behaviour or, more likely, those around them.

Prof Shannon’s report details barbaric abuse of children by parents, writes Cormac O’Keeffe.

The Shannon audit found no evidence that Section 12 is being used in an over-zealous manner by An Garda Síochána, and that the fall-out from the 2013 Athlone and Dublin Roma cases meant some gardaí were more anxious about using it.