A harrowing HSE report into decades of horrendous sexual abuse of up to 40 children with severe intellectual disabilities — including some who were mute — by a foster care family cannot be published for legal reasons, senior health service officials have claimed.

The HSE has been strongly criticised over how it manages its finances after the Public Accounts Committee heard that a future settlement with Revenue about underpayment of tax is likely, and about €2.7m worth of medicines passed their use-by date.