Child deaths report to be published by Christmas

THE report into the deaths of children known to social services will be published before Christmas, Minister for Children Frances Fitzgerald said yesterday.

The work of the Child Death Review Panel, comprising Child Law expert Geoffrey Shannon and Barnardos director of advocacy Norah Gibbons, is almost complete. It is understood the report could be submitted to Government by the end of next week. The report is understood to contain a number of shocking findings.

Speaking at the Family Resource Centre national Forum in Dublin yesterday, Minister for Children, Frances Fitzgerald, said she expected to receive the report in the coming weeks and intended to publish it before Christmas.