Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I have received representations from families of clients of the Redwood care facility in County Meath. One such client, Eamonn Kennedy, was admitted to Redwood in January 2010. I have his family's permission to raise this case with the Taoiseach. Following several falls in Redwood, Eamonn was hospitalised with a head injury and lacerations. He was hospitalised a second time with further lacerations and bruising to his upper body, arms, abdomen and legs. In 2012, a consultant in emergency medicine noted that several aspects of the bruising were suspicious of non-accidental injury and that there appeared to be no medical explanation for that bruising.

Another citizen, who, prior to moving to Redwood in 2013, was living independently with HSE support, within two days of moving to the facility was given anti-psychotic medication and taken off his gluten and dairy-free diet despite family objections. He suffered nine convulsions and was admitted to hospital a few days later. He subsequently returned to Redwood and remained there for three months on anti-psychotic medication against his family's wishes. He is no longer living at Redwood.

The Health Information and Quality Authority, HIQA, has said that there is a significant denial of the civil, legal and human rights of citizens at Redwood and that residents there have also been subject to severe deprivations of liberty and freedom of movement, including a locked door policy. It should be remembered that citizens at this facility are there on a voluntary basis and that their care at this private practice is being paid for. Given these disturbing reports and others which have come to light about other care centres, is it not the case this State is failing in its responsibilities towards citizens with intellectual disabilities who are residents of these facilities?

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