Probe into claims of abuse in foster family

A senior counsel-led State inquiry into allegations up to 40 severely disabled children and young adults were physically and sexually abused by a foster family for at least two decades is set to be launched by the Department of Health.

Health Minister Leo Varadkar and minister of state with responsibility for disability services Kathleen Lynch are to open the inquiry due to fears that what happened was covered up by health service managers.

The inquiry relates to claims up to 40 children and young adults with severe intellectual disabilities were abused at a Waterford foster home from at least 1992 until 2008, and whether health service managers adequately addressed the scandal.