Nine taken ‘off duty’ over abuse claims

Nine workers at a centre for people with intellectual disabilities, which is being investigated by gardaí after the sudden death of a resident in 2012, have been taken "off duty" after separate serious abuse allegations.

The individuals, who cannot be named, were temporarily removed after incidents of forced feeding, slapping, kicking and other physical abuse were found by an RTÉ investigation.

The HSE West confirmed the situation at the Aras Attracta facility in Swinford, Co Mayo, and said it was launching an “independently-led” inquiry to find out exactly what happened.