Health Board slammed over 15-year-old's death

The High Court has criticised the East Coast Area Health Board over the death of a girl who absconded from Newtown House in Co Wicklow and died of a heroin overdose.

15-year-old Kim O’Donovan escaped from care while on work experience last year. Her body was found in a Dublin city hostel a month later.

The High Court said today that the health board should not have allowed Ms O’Donovan to work without the direction of the court and recommended that a liaison officer be appointed to the court to prevent other disturbed children from suffering a similarly tragic fate.