Referendum will counter children’s ‘invisibility’

One of the authors of the report into the deaths of children known to care services has said the upcoming referendum on children’s rights could prevent similar tragedies taking place in future.

Geoffrey Shannon, who with Norah Gibbons of Barnardos formed the Independent Child Death Review Group, said if the referendum was passed it would also allow children in long-term foster care “a second chance” they do not enjoy under existing laws.

The report looked at 196 cases of children and young people who died while in or while known to care services between 2000 and 2010.