Another shameful neglect of duty

WE were reminded again this week that the reality of being Irish is very different to what we like to pretend it is.

Once again we were told that we are not the caring, humane society we would like to present to the world, that this is not a safe place for the weak, the disadvantaged or for those who cannot lead an independent life because of intellectual disability.

The great majority of the approximately 8,200 people who live in care are well looked after by heroic people who, day after day, do work that most of us cannot even understand much less attempt. Nevertheless a small minority are mistreated and vulnerable. And they need the immediate intervention of the state to make sure that they are treated with dignity, kindness and the compassion that defines a decent society.