ISPCC calls for 24-hour social work service

CHILD rights campaigners have called for a 24-hour social work service as a matter of urgency on the third anniversary of the deaths of Sharon Grace and her two children in Wexford.

The mother of three from Barntown, who suffered from depression, had called to Wexford’s Ely Hospital on April 16, 2005, looking for a social worker. None was available on the Saturday Ms Grace made her request as the area’s social work service only ran during the working week.

Hours after walking out of the hospital, Ms Grace, 28, drowned her daughters, Abby, 4, and Mikahla, 3, and herself at Kaats Strand, a short stretch of beach just under Wexford bridge, on April 16, 2005. Yesterday was the anniversary of their deaths and the Irish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (ISPCC) called on the Health Service Executive to ensure 24-hour social workers were available to deal with emergencies.

“We have been campaigning and lobbying for a number of years for an out-of-hours social work service for child protection and mental health,” said ISPCC advocacy manager Mary Nicholson.

“Tragedies like the one three years ago happen on an ongoing basis still, but there is no nationwide out-of-hours service.

“It is hard to understand why it is not in operation: we are a well-off country and such a service is so important,” said Ms Nicholson. She said the ISPCC’s own Childline service was proof of the need for help outside working hours.

“People don’t just have crises from 9am to 5pm: if there’s a problem on Friday evening they have to wait until Monday to get a social worker or the help they need — if even then.” On April 23 last year, the bodies of Adrian Dunne, 29, his wife Ciara, 26, and their daughters Léan, 5, and Shania, 3, were found in their bungalow at the Moine Rua estate in Monageer, outside Enniscorthy, Co Wexford. Gardaí contacted the HSE on the Saturday before the bodies of the Dunne family were discovered, only to be told there was no social worker on duty. The ISPCC said the need for a 24-hour social work service had been continually highlighted by newspapers as well as campaign groups.

The HSE yesterday said a 24-hour service was a priority and they were in talks with social workers’ union IMPACT about round-the-clock cover.

“The HSE has been in intensive discussions with IMPACT, as the representative body for social workers with a view to achieving support for the early introduction of a dedicated out of hours service,” said spokesman Daniel English.

“The HSE has also had discussions with the office of the Minister for Children with a view to achieving agreement on the detailed arrangements to be introduced.”

Services were available in the greater Dublin area but were patchy, he said.