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A COMPREHENSIVE SERIES OF ARTICLES ON THIS TOPIC

<p>Sodium valproate, manufactured by Sanofi and sold as Epilim, has been linked to a high risk of serious injury for babies in the womb. File picture</p>

news

Three more children settle Epilim sodium valproate cases

Also on Thursday, the Department of Health said it will not publish an interim report from a public inquiry looking at regulation of sodium valproate

<p>Paula Coote holding a photo of her daughter Nancy Coote with Aoife Bromley, Niamh Ní Mhurchú, Callan Tansey Solicitors, and Aileen Coote, Stephanie and Paddy Garrihy, and John and Gillian Coote, at the Coroners Court in Kilmallock. <span class="contextmenu emphasis CaptionCredit">Picture: Brendan Gleeson</span>
</p>

munster

Family ‘turned upside down’ by death of beloved 21-month-old with Down Syndrome

<p>'Before We Die' founders Tony Murray and his wife Susan Corrigan spoke to the 'Irish Examiner' earlier this year of their campaign seeking to put plans in place for the care of adults with intellectual disabilities — including their daughter — before their parents are no longer able to care for them. Picture: Moya Nolan</p>

politics

Adults with intellectual disabilities 'will be left stranded when their parents die' – TD

'We never leave them alone': Meet the Cork search and recovery group helping families find closure

spotlight

'We never leave them alone': Meet the Cork search and recovery group helping families find closure

Cancer survivor calls for support for 'lifeline' that helped his family maintain normal life

news

Cancer survivor calls for support for 'lifeline' that helped his family maintain normal life

Dáithí O Sé.png

Dear Dáithí: My sister was told to return a Communion dress as another pupil had it

Family history uncovered behind Clonakilty WWII hero Captain John Keany and his tragic legacy

S Family history uncovered behind Clonakilty WWII hero Captain John Keany and his tragic legacy

Discovery of a wartime letter uncovers the tragic story of a Cork family shaped by violence, loss and silence

Sun, 15 Mar, 2026

Children learning in a school classroom

Special school pupils have yet to get a full day of classes since November

Minister of state for disability Emer Higgins stated it was 'fantastic to see this wonderful special school up and running' despite the pupils missing out on eight hours of classes a week

Thu, 12 Mar, 2026

Parents devastated as special classes for children with additional needs delayed until 2027

Parents devastated as special classes for children with additional needs delayed until 2027

Twelve children with additional needs receive just two hours of daily education as planned Finglas special classes face delays

Thu, 12 Mar, 2026

HSE launches review into Cork couple’s pregnancy termination after incorrect diagnosis

HSE launches review into Cork couple’s pregnancy termination after incorrect diagnosis

External review will examine care given to Cork couple after termination based on incorrect diagnosis of fatal fetal abnormality

Thu, 12 Mar, 2026

'We end up giving them to our dogs' — Flood of complaints about quality of hot school meals

'We end up giving them to our dogs' — Flood of complaints about quality of hot school meals

Correspondence from parents seen by the 'Irish Examiner' lays out a litany of complaints from 'out of date meals' to 'incorrect allergen information'

Mon, 09 Mar, 2026

Proposal for Tusla welfare checks on 18,000 young people whose cases were closed during covid

Proposal for Tusla welfare checks on 18,000 young people whose cases were closed during covid

Government to consider legislation — but opposition TD says new law might not be needed, and that another agency could carry out the work

Tue, 03 Mar, 2026

Almost 14,000 children await hearing assessment — and deaf adults bear huge cost burden

Almost 14,000 children await hearing assessment — and deaf adults bear huge cost burden

'Working adults who are deaf are being penalised', and long waiting lists for children will have 'a massive developmental impact'

Tue, 03 Mar, 2026

Religious orders schools Scoping Inquiry - Ireland

Sean Ross Abbey survivor demands action after High Court ruling against minister

Ann Connolly has asked Norma Foley if the Government intends to respond or take action in the wake of court decision on the redress scheme

Sun, 01 Mar, 2026

Anger over lack of progress six months after rare disease strategy launched

Anger over lack of progress six months after rare disease strategy launched

About one in 17 people in Ireland live with a rare disease. Four in 10 experience poor access to healthcare services

Sat, 28 Feb, 2026

Grieving dad was quizzed about Social Protection benefit in 'accusing tone' after son's death

Grieving dad was quizzed about Social Protection benefit in 'accusing tone' after son's death

Michael Power and Maggie Butler have now welcomed changes to staff training following a complaint about the way they were treated after Alex's death

Sat, 28 Feb, 2026

Special needs assistants protest

SNA protests: ‘My son suffers the same whether it’s a redeployment or a cut’

While the number of special needs assistants has grown, so too has the need for such posts, writes Education Correspondent Jess Casey

Listen | Sat, 28 Feb, 2026

Man jailed after crash caused pregnant woman to lose her unborn baby

Man jailed after crash caused pregnant woman to lose her unborn baby

Saoirse Aylward, who was 31 weeks pregnant at the time, had to have an emergency C-Section after the crash

Fri, 27 Feb, 2026

CLOSE-UP DIRTY AND MUDDY DOG CARPET AT HOME.

Dear Dáithí: My sister has a new dog... it's taking over our lives

We get constant WhatsApp updates on where her dog is sitting and how cute it looks begging for a treat etc

Mon, 23 Feb, 2026

Legislation ‘absolutely failed’ children killed by their mother

Legislation ‘absolutely failed’ children killed by their mother

Seanad hears that 'ambiguity' across a number of acts of the Oireachtas had 'catastrophic' consequences for Andrew McGinley's family

Mon, 23 Feb, 2026

Drawing

David O'Mahony: Perhaps ‘going in the book’ is the best way to deal with our emotions

Any time I annoy her — usually with such heinous crimes as saying 'you need to tidy all your stuff away' — there’s a high chance we’ll find Daughter scribbling in a notebook, sketching sad faces or rain clouds, usually annotated for clarity

Sat, 21 Feb, 2026

'It’s simply not possible': Cork principal hits out at SNA cuts

'It’s simply not possible': Cork principal hits out at SNA cuts

Education Correspondent Jess Casey hears from parents and teachers about their fears amid NCSE review of special needs assistants

Tue, 17 Feb, 2026

'Flabbergasting' move to cut SNAs in schools 'will set education back 30 years'

'Flabbergasting' move to cut SNAs in schools 'will set education back 30 years'

Parents and teachers respond to 'mystifying' cutback on special needs assistants following NCSE review

Tue, 17 Feb, 2026

Marie Crowe: After having three sons I was 99% sure this was another boy

S Marie Crowe: After having three sons I was 99% sure this was another boy

Last March, RTÉ sports presenter Marie Crowe and her husband, Billy, welcomed their daughter, Jessie, after having three boys and after a nine-year gap. She describes the moment of finding out this baby was a girl, about what that meant to her — and how Jessie has brought a beautiful calm energy to family life

Thu, 12 Feb, 2026

Young Girl In Bedroom Worried By Bullying Text Message

Half of children aged 8-12 at risk online with no parental restrictions, survey finds

CyberSafeKids says many children are exposed to the risk of engaging with strangers as it launches its 'Same Rules Apply' campaign

Tue, 10 Feb, 2026

David O'Mahony: From D&D to cards, the family that games together stays together

David O'Mahony: From D&D to cards, the family that games together stays together

Perhaps, like the Pokémon of old, it’s time for us to evolve into a boardgame family. If nothing else, it would be a break from screens

Sat, 07 Feb, 2026

Doctor and female patient sitting at the desk and talking in clinic near window. Medicine and health care concept. Green is ma

'Shocking' data shows cancer patients face postcode lottery for timely treatment

University Hospital Waterford and Cork University Hospital among six facilities showing regional inequalities in 'shocking' Irish Cancer Society data

Fri, 06 Feb, 2026

Cork community gardens to be highlighted at national event

Cork community gardens to be highlighted at national event

Denise Cahill will tell Safefood event about the work of 25 community food-growing projects in Cork

Wed, 04 Feb, 2026

Baby food: SMA First Infant Milk urgent product recall due to food poisoning risk

Baby food: SMA First Infant Milk urgent product recall due to food poisoning risk

The latest recall, this time by Nestlé, is again linked to a heat-resistant toxin called cereulide which can cause food poisoning

Tue, 03 Feb, 2026

Ageing parents of children with disabilities 'run ragged full-time caring have to be lobbyists too’

Ageing parents of children with disabilities 'run ragged full-time caring have to be lobbyists too’

With nobody to represent them, people with intellectual disabilities may never leave for-profit emergency placements far from home, writes Cianan Brennan

Tue, 03 Feb, 2026

Irish Examiner view: Parents' heartbreaking plea for their daughter's care when they are no longer there

Irish Examiner view: Parents' heartbreaking plea for their daughter's care when they are no longer there

At least 2,000 adults with intellectual disabilities live with parents or carers aged over 70. Now a dad seeks to ensure his daughter is cared for when he's no longer able to do so

Tue, 03 Feb, 2026

Spain performs pioneering face transplant from donor who requested assisted dying

Spain performs pioneering face transplant from donor who requested assisted dying

At the Vall d'Hebron hospital in Barcelona, the grateful recipient said: 'I'm starting to look more like myself'

Mon, 02 Feb, 2026

Garden in Fuerteventura

Dear Dáithí: A relative left our parents' lovely holiday home in an awful state

It looks like my uncle let a son of one of his golfing buddies use my parent's holiday villa. How should we sort this?

Mon, 02 Feb, 2026

Feeding bottle with infant formula and powder on violet background, flat lay

How a toxin linked to baby formula exposed risks in the global food supply chain

Concerns over a toxin linked to infant formula have exposed vulnerabilities in global food supply chains and recall systems

Mon, 02 Feb, 2026

Aptamil infant formula recall

Baby food fears: Inspectors visit Cork and Wexford plants amid toxin scare

Department of Agriculture dispatches inspectors to factories as global concern grows around baby food production

Sun, 01 Feb, 2026

Waitress Serving Drinks To Group Of Friends Sitting At Table In Pub Garden Enjoying Drink Together

S Colin Sheridan: Saying please and thank you is common courtesy — but let’s draw the line at AI

Having been put in his place by his daughter (something all parents will recognise) Colin Sheridan figures we should err on the side of kindness and courtesy

Sat, 31 Jan, 2026

'You can’t be naïve to think it is still just cocaine or ecstasy like it was before. It’s a whole new ballgame'

'You can’t be naïve to think it is still just cocaine or ecstasy like it was before. It’s a whole new ballgame'

Cork senator Nicole Ryan has renewed her warning about the availability of synthetic drugs ahead of the 10th anniversary of her brother's death

Fri, 30 Jan, 2026

Kids Having Fun

Jess Casey: Being a gifted child is no advantage in our education system

Education specialists and the mother of a 'twice-exceptional' child explode the myth that 'the bright kids in the class will be fine by themselves'

Sun, 25 Jan, 2026

Patrick Holloway: Aurora borealis brought magic to an ordinary night

Patrick Holloway: Aurora borealis brought magic to an ordinary night

Witnessing the marvel brought me beyond my garden, and back to a place where magic exists, where other worlds and parallels are not fantasy

Fri, 23 Jan, 2026

Parents arguing and scolding their sad daughter at home

Sarah Harte: Too many parents are failing to teach their children basic respect

Happily, we've moved on from labelling children as 'good' or 'bad' — but parents must be able to tell them their behaviour is 'right' or 'wrong'

Wed, 21 Jan, 2026

Royal High School

Autistic girl's family told to seek special school place in other counties

Autistic girl's mother, Áine Curtin, says: 'It's not just me... They have kids getting on buses in Cork and going to schools in Kerry'

Mon, 19 Jan, 2026

Boy with smartphone indoors. Preteen boy using a phone checking social media. Concept of children using the smartphone

Grok app abuse is 'mild compared to AI girlfriend sites'

'AI girlfriend' websites ‘actively advertised to teens and pre-teens’

Mon, 19 Jan, 2026

Sad boy

New report reveals 'awful' and 'frightening' cases of severe child neglect and sexual assault

The Child Law Project, which reports on child protection proceedings, has published 77 new case reports to detail the kinds of cases that come before the courts

Mon, 19 Jan, 2026

Friends pay tribute to 'a real lady' who died in Limerick house fire

Friends pay tribute to 'a real lady' who died in Limerick house fire

Marguerite 'Marge' Neville was pronounced dead after the fire at her home in Chesterfield Downs, Singland, Limerick City

Sun, 18 Jan, 2026

Shadow Of Mother Holding Baby On Wall

Letters to the Editor: Adopted from a mother and baby home, my father rediscovered his family

A reader says his father was rejected from the reparations scheme — but he was blessed by his reunification with his birth family

Sat, 17 Jan, 2026

Meet Ireland’s new search and rescue dogs trained to find missing people on land and water

Meet Ireland’s new search and rescue dogs trained to find missing people on land and water

A volunteer team and their dogs are pioneering Ireland’s first water search capability for missing persons and recovery operations

Wed, 14 Jan, 2026

School attendance figures

Parents raise alarm at repurposing of special classes

Re-classification of early intervention classes as autism classes is raising concerns, writes Education Correspondent Jess Casey

Mon, 12 Jan, 2026

Scoliosis and spina bifida: Families 'clear' about what they want from inquiry

Scoliosis and spina bifida: Families 'clear' about what they want from inquiry

Dozens of families travelled from all over the country to meet ahead of an inquiry into care for children with spina bifida and scoliosis

Mon, 12 Jan, 2026

Chris Luke: Children need a healthy fear of inhaling gases

Chris Luke: Children need a healthy fear of inhaling gases

Don't leave it up to grieving parents — it's up to all of us to show kids the consequences of 'huffing' or volatile substance abuse

Mon, 12 Jan, 2026

Young Scientist: Kerry student wins top prize for 'extraordinary' brain cancer diagnostic tool

Young Scientist: Kerry student wins top prize for 'extraordinary' brain cancer diagnostic tool

Tralee 15-year-old Aoibheann Daly is hailed for her 'extraordinary achievement' which could help doctors improve the treatment of brain cancer

Fri, 09 Jan, 2026