HSE again fail to answer questions on report into father’s murder-suicide

The HSE has again failed to answer questions on its report into a murder-suicide involving a father and two young girls — which said there were no shortcomings in the care it provided.

For the second time in two days, the HSE South did not provide details of its report into the deaths of John Butler and his children Zoe, 6, and Ella, 2, two years ago this month.

Instead, it said questions about the issue related to a “formal inquiry” which did not take place. It did not address the fact the questions relate to an operations/services report into the tragedy, that concluded in May.

This probe took place without the knowledge or input of the girls’ mother and John’s widow Una Butler and was only revealed after she called for a re-check into what happened. Ms Butler has since called for the report to be re-opened in a public setting so that its details can be known publicly, and for her input to be included.

However, when the Irish Examiner asked a series of questions seeking details of the document after an initial HSE statement on Wednesday night did not address them, a HSE South spokesperson said: “The HSE’s Oct 31 response does answer your query. The statement clearly confirmed no formal inquiry had taken place; had this been the case, the family would have been involved in that formal process. Your questions related to details of an inquiry and, as such an inquiry did not take place, the matter of any subsequent questions does not arise.

“HSE staff have been in ongoing contact with Ms Butler and have recently met with her in relation to these matters. You will appreciate, however, that it is not appropriate to discuss the private and confidential details of Mr Butler’s case with anyone other than Ms Butler and her representatives.”

Mental Health Minister Kathleen Lynch has confirmed to Ms Butler and this newspaper that a report into Mr Butler’s care has been drawn up. The document was concluded in May. Ms Butler was made aware of it in September and received a copy on Oct 3 after inadvertently becoming aware of the report.

The report was drawn up by the operations manager of the HSE South’s mental health services, and cleared HSE South’s mental health services of missing potential warning signs of what was to happen.

A statement through her solicitors on Wednesday, said the fact Una was left unaware of the report “offend[s] against all of the basic principles of natural justice or simple fairness”.