Deaths of five children in care never reviewed

THE circumstances in which five children died while in state care were never reviewed, the Government has admitted.

The five were among 23 children who died while in, or shortly after leaving, State care since 2000.

The Health Service Executive (HSE) has not published a report into any of the 23 deaths, prompting claims of a “cover-up” yesterday when a special debate was held in the Dáil.