Health board now faces scrutiny over delay in tackling neglect
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Social workers became worried about neglect and emotional abuse of the children at the 'house of horrors' as the family expanded and the fourth child was born in 1996.
The family was known to the Western Health Board since 1989 -- but it took 15 years before the children were finally taken into care.
The actions of the health board -- which was subsumed into the Health Service Executive (HSE) in 2005 -- are now set to come under close scrutiny as questions are asked why this level of savage abuse and neglect went on for so long.
It must have been visible to neighbours, teachers and doctors that the children were poorly nourished and neglected.
Officials privately insist the true scale of abuse took more than a decade to emerge and a wall of silence surrounded the family as the frightened and terrified children were drilled by their mother not to reveal what they were suffering behind closed doors.
Central to the examination will be whether social workers and childcare officials used all means to rescue and protect the children from such vile abuse.
The HSE confirmed last night that the health board was alerted to the family after the first chlild was born in 1989 but it took years before serious concerns about them emerged.
In 1996, the family was placed on its 'neglect' register and, up to the point where they were eventually taken into care in 2004, they were the subjects of regular child protection conferences and review.
A spokesman said last night the interventions were of a "family support nature" and involved home helps, home management advice, and visits by a public health nurse and a childcare and social worker.
Critical
The involvement of the health board reached a critical juncture in 2000 when a sixth child was born and the mother agreed with health officials that the children would be put in the care of their maternal aunt and uncle.
This was a voluntary agreement but "within days", the mother secured a High Court order restraining the Western Health Board from proceeding with this care arrangement.
This restraining order was lifted the next year, and it appeared to health officials the family had made "great improvements" in their standard of care for the child.
The children appeared to be better turned out, they had school lunches and there were home improvements to the house. "During this time the family continued to engage with family support services," the spokesman said.
The horrific level of physical and sexual abuse, however, only began in May 2004.
"This led to the eldest boy being taken into care immediately and subsequently in September 2004, all children were placed in care.
"It is only in the safety of alternative accommodation that the children began to disclose their experiences," he added.
Up to this day, the HSE "continues to be actively involved in supporting members of the family", the spokesman said.
Despite the claims of the health board, previous cases of family abuse in the west of Ireland and in other health boards have exposed how children at serious risk can fall through the cracks for years.
As the Western Health Board was dealing with this family in Roscommon, the case of the McColgan family came to light in the course of a court case in 1995. Joseph McColgan, a farmer from Ballinacarrow, Ballymote, Co Sligo, physically and sexually abused his children for 20 years. Astonishingly, it later emerged the family had more than 300 contacts with health staff, doctors or nurses but their cries went unheeded.
The conclusion of this 'house of horrors' trial is likely to prompt a fresh review of how the health board and gardai handled this case.
- Eilish O'Regan Health Correspondent
