Court green lights legal action over failures to protect child from alleged sexual abuse by 12 men

The president of the High Court has authorised the taking of legal action against State agencies over their alleged “appalling” failures over years to protect a child from alleged sexual abuse by more than 12 males.

A "horror story" was described in an opinion by senior counsel Sara Moorhead setting out the grounds for a case to be brought against the HSE and Child and Family Agency by the general solicitor for wards of court on behalf of the girl, Mr Justice Peter Kelly said.