Gilmore accuses Government of axing watchdogs who champion citizen rights

THE Government has been accused of systematically dismantling public watchdogs after the Ombudsman claimed health chiefs refused to co-operate with an investigation.

Emily O’Reilly claimed the Department of Health laid a raft of charges against her over her latest probe into 1,200 complaints over nursing home fees.

It revealed older people’s rights were abused over four decades because of a lack of state-funded beds.