After-hours ‘social care’ report due

A WORKING group set up in the aftermath of the 2005 death of Sharon Grace and her two daughters, to look into the provision of out-of-hours social work care for at-risk families is expected to finish its report next month.

The lack of after-hours social work services was highlighted again last month when it emerged that there was no HSE staff member available to call to the Monageer home of Adrian and Ciara Dunne during the weekend of April 21/22. Their bodies, and those of their daughters Leán 5 and Shania 3 were found on Monday, April 23.

Recommendations on the provision of out-of-hours child protection services are now being finalised by the national working group which was established to review services. A spokesperson for the HSE said that a model for “a consistent and comprehensive out of hours service for children and families” will be part of the report.

The working group includes representatives form the HSE, the Garda Síochána and Focus Ireland.

The Dunnes’ visit to an undertaker on Friday, April 20, to make funeral arrangements was reported to gardaí that day and the information was passed on to the HSE the following day.

A HSE spokesperson has said that, in Wexford, there are “out-of-hours protocols” in place with the gardaí, “who may be contacted in relation to children deemed to be at risk”. Children can be taken into care via this process and Wexford General Hospital is designated as the “place of safe keeping”.

On the evening of the discovery of the bodies of the Dunne family, the HSE pointed out that the only services currently available at weekends are through the Caredoc emergency GP facility, or the Childcare Act which gives gardaí the power to remove vulnerable children from a risk situation and put them in a safe place.

Meanwhile, support has been offered by the HSE to Adrian and Ciara Dunne’s immediate family, extended family, community and neighbours, the local school, gardaí, local priests, staff and the undertaker.

Counselling for anybody affected by the Monageer tragedy has been provided by the HSE in association with the Console National Helpline on 1800-201890. In Wexford, an out-of-hours telephone advice and listening line for people under stress is accessible on 1890-225555 (7pm-10.30pm, seven days a week).