Evidence to PAC on ‘Grace’ inaccurate

Evidence given to the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) by senior HSE officials relating to the ‘Grace’ foster abuse case was inaccurate, whisteblowers connected with the scandal have said.

At committee hearings into the controversy earlier this year, it was claimed by the HSE that personnel connected with a decision to leave Grace in the home are no longer working in the public sector.

However, this claim has been sharply contradicted by the whistleblowers in fresh correspondence seen by the Irish Examiner.

“Contrary to the clear assurances provided to the PAC by the HSE, one of the individuals on this three-person panel continues to work as a principal social worker responsible for monitoring children in placements outside of their natural families. Again, the HSE continued with a particular narrative, which I can only take as an attempt to suggest that the concerns I had brought to the committee’s attention were unfounded,” one of the whistleblowers said.

But the Irish Examiner understands that, in fact, not one but two senior personnel remain in the public service.

As a result, the state commission of investigation has been asked to investigate the claims the HSE misled the previous Dáil’s PAC. Former PAC chair John McGuinness and his vice-chairman John Deasy have both called for the alleged misinformation to be included in the terms of reference of the inquiry.

“The reason I am calling for this is because it is clear that misinformation was given to the PAC. The transcripts of those meetings have to be set beside the evidence which is now emerging,” Mr McGuinness said.

Mr McGuinness is to seek the formal backing of his party in demanding the inclusion of the PAC evidence in the commission’s work.

Mr Deasy, meanwhile, said the PAC may have been misled by the HSE, but it has also been suggested that senior HSE officials have been misled from within. He said these suggestions need to investigated.

In response, Disability Minister Finian McGrath has said he has an “open mind” in terms of the demands from the two TDs who were central to bringing this issue to light.

He said he was greatly impressed by the sincerity and professionalism of the whistleblowers when he met them, but that he wants to hear from the HSE before he finalises the terms of reference.

Last night, the HSE insisted claims made to the PAC were accurate but it confirmed that two people involved in the decision making process around Grace remain in public service.

It was stated at the PAC by director Tony O’Brien that not one member of that particular three-person panel remain in service. That was true. But two people on a second panel are still in their position,” the spokesman said.

In the protected disclosures, the social worker made a series of allegations about the foster home as far back as 2009. As revealed previously, it was claimed 47 children were at risk, while ‘Grace’ remained in the family’s care for more than 20 years despite allegations of child sexual abuse.