Inquiry into foster abuse case within weeks

A long-delayed state inquiry into the ‘Grace’ foster abuse scandal is set to begin within weeks after an independent report into the controversy was finally published last night.

Cabinet agreed to set up the previously promised commission of inquiry at a lengthy meeting yesterday following the publication of a 309-page investigation by senior counsel Conor Dignam.

The report was first commissioned by former junior health minister and Labour TD Kathleen Lynch 16 months ago due to serious concerns that a woman with severe mental disabilities — given the pseudonym ‘Grace’ — was subjected to repeated sexual abuse by her foster family between 1989 and 2009.