Report into deaths of children in care say cases were let ‘drift’

Reviews into the deaths of children in care criticise how some cases were allowed to “drift” before meaningful action was taken, and the lack of coordination between social workers and other professionals such as Public Health Nurses and mental health services.

The findings of the National Review Panel (NRP) looked at six cases, including that of a baby, ‘Jack’, who died in bed with his mother, who had been using drugs earlier that day.

In that case, it found “very limited communication” between the social work department (SWD) and public health nurses, including regarding information about the parents’ drug use. Just hours before the baby’s death Gardai had notified the SWD after they found Jack’s parents under the influence of substances. He was sent to a relative’s but was later joined there by his mother and died of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome with her.