Care centre abuse claims in Youghal not reported to Hiqa

Claims of abuse of residents with intellectual disabilities were not properly reported to Hiqa before it was notified of an assault claim that prompted inspections that revealed a litany of failings.

The visits to three centres at St Raphael’s in Youghal, Co Cork, were triggered by an allegation of a staff assault on a resident last February, and another alleged push on a resident in March was reported to the Health Information and Quality Authority (Hiqa) and gardaí in June.

However, records for the Oakvale centre showed Hiqa inspectors that several incidents in 2014 and this year of alleged abuse, and residents absent without explanation, were not reported in three days as required.