Report due on foster home abuse

A long-awaited independent report to decide on whether a state commission of inquiry is needed due to the alleged cover-up of serious foster care abuse in the South-East is expected to be given to Government before the weekend.

The Irish Examiner understands the report into the HSE’s reaction to claims officials covered-up how a woman with severe intellectual disabilities was left at an abusive home is due to be handed to Disabilities Minister Finian McGrath in the next 48 hours.

The report, drawn up by senior counsel Conor Dignam, is specifically examining two unpublished HSE-commissioned reports into the scandal and questions over why former health service managers were considered independent enough to examine the matter.