Whistleblower urges details’ release

The whistleblower who first raised concerns over the Waterford foster care abuse scandal has urged the HSE to release details of two unpublished reports explaining why a vulnerable person was allowed to stay despite serious abuse claims.

The social worker for ‘Grace’ — who was left with the family from 1989 to 2009 despite all placements being banned in 1995 — told the Irish Examiner last night there is no legal impediment to detailing key facts about the decision.

During exchanges with the Public Accounts Committee yesterday, HSE director general Tony O’Brien said he cannot authorise the publication of the 200-page 2012 Conal Devine report and the 2015 Resilience Ireland investigation as to do so would prejudice ongoing garda investigations.