Unnatural deaths of children in care double

The number of children and teenagers who died of unnatural causes while in the care of the HSE more than doubled last year.

Figures supplied under the Freedom of Information Act show that 16 young people died in 2012, up from six in 2011.

The chairwoman of the National Review Panel for Child Deaths and Serious Incidents, Helen Buckley, confirmed that half of the deaths were suicides and others deaths included road accidents and a drowning.