State ‘failing to protect children in family crises’

THE State must provide a nationwide 24-hour child protection service following revelations that a Co Wexford mother drowned herself and her two children after she was unable to get help in her local hospital, the ISPCC said last night.

Its comments follow an inquest into the death of 28-year-old Sharon Grace, who drowned her daughters, Abby (three) and Mikhala (four) before taking her own life last year.

The distraught mother-of-three from Barntown had called to a local hospital on April 16 last year, looking for a social worker. But it was a Saturday evening and none was available.

Like all other counties, the region does not have an out-of-hours, emergency service. Nor are there plans to provide such cover.

The ISPCC said it shares the coroner’s concern raised at Thursday’s inquest about the lack of a comprehensive out-of-hours service.

“This tragic case is a clear example of the State’s continuous failure to provide adequate child protection and welfare services to the most vulnerable children and their families in Ireland.

“It is unacceptable that the lead statutory agency responsible for the protection of children in this state remains a 9am-5pm, Monday to Friday operation.

“Most families do not fall into crisis conveniently within these times,” the ISPCC said in a statement.

The HSE said there were no plans to extend hours worked by social workers in Wexford, or to provide emergency out-of-hours cover. Community-based social work services are provided on a Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm basis only.

Outside of these hours, the General Practitioner (GP) Out of Hours services or A&E services can be contacted, a statement said.

“The HSE South has had a clinical nurse specialist in Wexford Accident and Emergency Department for some time as part of a mental health intervention project for people who have self-harmed or have an intent to self-harm,” it said.

“The purpose of this service has been to provide additional support and advice to front line nursing, medical and paramedical staff in managing suspected deliberate self-harm and threatened suicide.”

What the ISPCC wants

* A constitutional amendment to acknowledge and underpin the rights of children.

* A 24-hour child protection service for children and families.

* A national child abuse strategy.

* A comprehensive model of therapy and risk assessment of sex offenders.

* Legislation to ban physical punishment of children

* A State-funded positive parenting programme to support parents.

* The Government to act now for children.