Staff face charges for failing children in care

Care workers and HSE staff who “blatantly” failed vulnerable young children under their care could face criminal charges.

Minister for Children Frances Fitzgerald said the involvement of the gardaí and the Director of Public Prosecutions could be considered following the publication of a damning report into the deaths of 196 children from 2000 to 2010.

Ms Fitzgerald was responding to calls from party colleague and TD Denis Naughten, who demanded tough action against staff who “blatantly did not do their job” and “in some cases... deliberately misrepresented the situation to reduce their own workload”.