Mick Clifford: Grace report highlights deeper issue — a €500m addiction to costly public inquiries

Ireland has spent €500 million on public inquiries since 1998 — but victims and the public still lack real accountability

The commission of investigation into the Grace case was comprehensive, professionally compiled yet light on culpability over the treatment of a highly vulnerable person, both as a child and an adult. File photo

The bare bones of the commission of investigation into the “Grace” case had a familiar ring. The commission took eight years to complete its work and cost €13.5m. Its report was comprehensive, professionally compiled yet light on culpability over the treatment of a highly vulnerable person, both as a child and an adult. 

Reaction from politics and the media has been more vocal in criticizing the outcome than would usually be the case, most likely because of the human tragedy at the centre of it. But, for the greater part, the results chimed with other commissions.