HSE under fire over deaths figure

THE HSE has come under intense fire after it revealed 37 children had died while in care in the past decade, just a day after the Government said it believed the figure would be 23.

The deaths include five by suicide, five from drugs and two by unlawful killing.

Fine Gael challenged the accuracy of the tally, while Minister for Children Barry Andrews expressed alarm over the figure and said he would be demanding an explanation from senior HSE management.