‘Children will die’ as services struggling

THE social services system is badly dysfunctional and children will be seriously abused or die as a result, the Dáil has heard.

Fine Gael spokesman on children Alan Shatter said it was inevitable that in 10 or 15 years’ time, an inquiry would be established to investigate how the current system was allowed persist.

He also claimed that, because of weaknesses in the system, suspected child abuse cases were not being properly investigated in Cork. Citing statistics to support his case, he said: “Child abusers who go and live in Cork are more likely to be allowed to abuse their children continuously for years because no one will ever properly investigate it.”