An organisation that specialises in helping people with intellectual disabilities and autism has closed its hydrotherapy pool following a health scare.

HEALTH Minister James Reilly said he agreed that a cultural change is needed within the Heath Service Executive (HSE) after the organisation’s head of child and family services described it as appalling and likened its accountability structures to those of the Catholic Church.

An independent inquiry is to be carried out into the handling of the 'House of Horrors' child abuse case, health chiefs confirmed tonight.