Parents turn to gardai for justice

A number of parents of deceased children whose organs were removed without the parents’ knowledge or consent have turned to the gardaí in the hope criminal prosecutions will ensue.

It is unfortunate the parents have lost confidence in the Dunne Inquiry into the scandal - many have withdrawn from the Inquiry - but the parents have been

living with this horrendous situation for too many years, in some cases going back two decades.

The extent of the unauthorised organ removal is demonstrated by Parents for Justice, which represents 1,906 parents and next-of-kin who allege that 11 hospitals were guilty of breaches of the relevant legislation.

The Dunne Inquiry has been sitting for 19 months but has been hindered in its work.

The parents maintain that less than half of the accused hospitals have supplied the necessary information.

Given the gravity of the issues, it is unfortunate the inquiry does not have the statutory powers to compel witnesses to attend and to demand whatever documentation it deems relevant to its inquiries.