Care home probe after girl left with marks on her body
GARDAI are investigating a complaint made against a residential centre for people with intellectual disabilities after a parent complained about unexplained marks on her daughter's back and arms in November last year.
The girl had been staying at the North-West Parents & Friends Association (St Ciaran's) residential centre in Carrick-on-Shannon, Co Leitrim, when the incident occurred.
The HSE carried out an independent investigation into the concerns at the centre, which is partly funded by the HSE and Department of Education.
But now a social work investigation is examining the matter with the help of the gardai.
They are looking at the possibility that the marks may have been inflicted by a male resident at the centre.
The disturbing case surfaced in a series of confidential HSE documents seen by the Irish Independent.
The records outlined complaints against centres for the intellectually disabled and the mentally-ill that are directly run or partly funded by the HSE.
Treatment
Between 2007 and March 2009 the HSE received 252 complaints about the treatment of residents in centres for those with an intellectual disability.
Distressed relatives made complaints ranging from unexplained injuries to the quality of the food provided. And in the majority of cases the HSE vowed to review procedures and policies -- with only a tiny number of complaints dismissed entirely.
The HSE also received 189 complaints about the level of care in HSE-funded psychiatric wards and hospitals during that period.
Patients complained of not being treated with respect and of physical abuse by other patients.
In May of this year national guidelines were drawn up to ensure the safety of an estimated 10,000 adults living in centres for the intellectually disabled.
But neither they, nor centres housing the 400-plus intellectually disabled children, are currently subject to independent and unannounced inspections.
In contrast, mental health services are routinely monitored by the Mental Health Commission.
The lack of inspection motivated many relatives to log complaints.
Last night Fine Gael TD Damien English -- who obtained the figures through a parliamentary question -- branded the revelations disturbing.
- Patricia McDonagh
