Sisters ask families to pool foster care info

Two sisters of a woman placed in a foster care home at the centre of serious abuse allegations have urged affected families to contact them to pool information on the case.

Bridget and Margaret, whose second names have not been released to protect the identity of their sister, made the call after criticising officials for not keeping them informed — a claim the HSE last night rejected, saying families have been offered support.

Speaking on RTÉ radio, the women, from the south-east, said their sister was given respite placements at the home on three occasions, in 1983, 1987, and 1989, when she was aged 12, 16, and 18. She has limited speech and has the mental capacity of a two-year-old.