Grace scandal inquiry to take one year

The Government will today launch a year-long investigation into the ‘Grace’ foster abuse scandal which will focus on cover-up claims, “threats” against whistle-blowers, and the actions of still-employed senior officials central to the case.

However, the commission will ignore calls for the cases of at least 46 other vulnerable people placed at the home to be formally included, despite evidence a small number were also physically and sexually abused over a 30-year period.

The Irish Examiner understands the commission’s terms of reference, which will be published just hours after Grace’s birth mother last night described the scandal as “a living hell”, will warn that serious questions remain over what happened at the home which demand further investigation.