HSE writes formal apology to foster care abuse victim

The HSE has issued a formal written apology to the woman allegedly abused for two decades at a state-run foster-care home after denying for a week it had failed to do so in person.

The Irish Examiner understands the apology was finally given to individuals representing the woman, who has significant intellectual disabilities, on Monday — accepting none of the failures which contributed to her situation “should ever have happened”.

Over Christmas, the HSE wrote to the Dáil’s public accounts committee to say it apologised to the woman who allegedly suffered years of disturbing sexual, physical and financial abuse at a foster care home between 1989 and 2009. The alleged apology was said to have taken place on December 9, with a follow up phonecall to the woman’s birth mother. A number of individuals aware of the facts have confirmed no such apology was given.