Families blast HSE over ‘Grace’ investigation

“However, it is now incomprehensible that, in spite of what has happened, the HSE has failed to co-operate with Mr Dignam,” the statement added.

“This failure to co-operate is adding further to the ongoing hurt and grief suffered daily by the victims and their family members.”

The family members had hoped that when the head of the HSE, Tony O’ Brien, admitted responsibility for these terrible events that a full and transparent inquiry would follow.

These family members are very disappointed to note that is not now the case which serves only to compound their grave suffering.

Meanwhile, Taoiseach Enda Kenny said he wants to get the investigation into abuses in the South-East “right” and so the process cannot be rushed.

Mr Kenny said: “Yes there was a report from Conor Dignam and there was a recommendation from him in respect of two particular legal issues and he recommended very strongly that they be dealt with in sequence and not in parallel. The first of those was completed on the 19th and the other one is now being pursued as quickly as possible — complicated issues of course.

“For the families, yes, this a very sensitive time, but we do want to get it right.”

Speaking after an EU summit in Brussels yesterday, Mr Kenny added: “The Government have agreed and will accept whatever the recommendations are that come out of the Dignam report.”

Earlier this week, Mr Dignam, the barrister charged with compiling a report into allegations of sexual abuse against a disabled woman, ‘Grace’, in a Waterford foster home expressed “serious concerns” about the HSE’s co-operation with his report.

Freedom of Information documents obtained by the Irish Examiner revealed Conor Dignam was forced to miss several deadlines for producing his report to the Government because of HSE delays.

In correspondence in August, Mr Dignam told Mr McGrath he was forced to seek an extension as the HSE discovered “new documents” which had not been previously furnished to him.