Scouting Ireland criticised for eight-year delay in accepting liability for girl's death

Anne Winterlich asked in a statement outside court how parents could now trust Scouting Ireland to take care of the safety of their children during scouting activities

Anne Winterlich said outside court that it was unacceptable that no mandatory investigation was conducted into the circumstances leading up to the movements of Aoife Winterlich (pictured) prior to her having been swept into the sea.

Scouting Ireland has been excoriated in and out of court for the manner in which it dealt with the death of a 14-year-old girl who was swept into the sea at Hook Island Lighthouse during a day trip eight years ago and died in hospital a few days afterwards.

Judge Christopher Callan was told in the Circuit Civil Court that the scouting organization had contested liability for eight years until last week in the case, brought by Anne Winterlich, mother of drowning victim Aoife.