Ombudsman for Children: Gardaí need ready access to child data

Gardaí might not have removed two children from their Roma families if they had access to health records, according to the Ombudsman for Children’s report.

Emily Logan said it was “critical” that systems were put in place which would allow gardaí “ready access” to information on children held by social workers and public health nurses.

The ombudsman was also heavily critical in her report of the failure of Garda management to prioritise child protection, describing the lack of guidance to members on emergency care orders as “unacceptable”.