Minister fails to find expert for child death study

THE Minister for Children has failed to find an international expert to join the group reviewing the deaths of children and young people in HSE care two months after he announced he would be making the appointment.

The intended three-person Child Death Review Group, which so far comprises family law expert Geoffrey Shannon and Barnardos advocacy director Norah Gibbons, has had to start work one person short.

Minister Barry Andrews said in early March that Mr Shannon and Ms Gibbons would be joined by “an independent person of international standing”, but a spokeswoman said yesterday those arrangements were still being put in place.