Report published despite children’s media misgivings

MR JUSTICE John MacMenamin said he was granting the HSE permission to publish the report having listened to the views of the children over whether the report should be published amid their serious concerns that it would attract more sensationalised media coverage.

One of the children told the judge it would have been better not to have been taken into care rather than “go through what the media have done. I can’t do it again”.

Yesterday’s ruling arose out of an application to the court by the HSE for an order enabling it to publish the report of an inquiry team set up after questions were raised about the manner in which the HSE had discharged its childcare functions in relation to the family.