Minister plans to report any 'potentially criminal' claims in nursing homes

Minister of State Mary Butler has promised to investigate allegations of neglect in nursing homes during the pandemic. File picture: Sasko Lazarov/RollingNews.ie

Minister of State with responsibility for mental health and older people Mary Butler is planning to report any “potentially criminal” allegations about abuse and neglect in nursing homes to gardaí.

The decision follows a meeting on Monday with families of loved ones who died in nursing homes and one last week with officials from the Health Information and Quality Authority (Hiqa).