Patricia Ryan (Kildare South, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I often begin a contribution by welcoming the opportunity to speak on an issue. In this case, however, I am absolutely sickened to the pit of my stomach having read the details of the various reports of the Farrelly commission.

Most people will have a little knowledge of the commission's work, particularly as it relates to the sorry tale of Grace. Nonetheless, it is better that we speak about it in public so that somebody somewhere, perhaps a care worker or a family member, might hear about it, read a bit more and ask questions. Perhaps such a person would be more inclined to question a bruise, scratch, behaviour or word that seemed out of place but was brushed aside by a colleague or was forgotten in the hustle and bustle of a busy workplace. Something might make them think twice about staying silent and that might save another vulnerable human being from suffering a similar fate to those mentioned in this report.

The report sets out what the commission describes as systemic failings and shortcomings in the care of Grace over the two decades she stayed in the home. Indeed, for several years, she was forgotten altogether, with few or no checks being made as to her welfare. The report states that Grace fell through the cracks and out of sight. She was placed with a foster family in what was meant to be a temporary arrangement. The health board knew that both the foster parents had convictions for theft but that did not raise any red flags. Concerns about alleged abuse in the home were first raised in 1992 but Grace remained in the foster home until 2009. Records show that Grace was absent on a worrying number of occasions form her daycare facility between 2002 and 2006. In 2006, she was marked absent on 170 occasions.

Grace was not alone. There were several other children living in the home over that period. Grace ended up with the family because of a severe shortage of residential places in the south east. She was failed by the system that was meant to protect her. The health board failed to monitor, review and supervise Grace in her placement, failed to maintain a case file and failed to designate an authorised officer to oversee her case.

In October 1995, a large bruise was noticed on Grace's hip. Ten days later, an incident report stated that for the first time in daycare, Grace completely stripped herself for no apparent reason. Other documents also referred to bruising on Grace's body, bad behaviour, poor hygiene and the stripping off of her clothes. In 1996, the mother of a different girl said that her daughter had been sexually molested while being fostered by the same foster family. That allegation was never properly investigated by the Garda because a formal complaint was not made. In 2000, a burn mark on Grace's inner thigh was found by a nurse but was not reported to management and the matter was not followed up.

Concerns were then raised after Grace turned up for a day service appointment in August 2008 with a black eye. The following March, she was found to have bruising on her breast and thigh. Finally, in July 2009, Grace was removed from the home after her mother was informed of the bruising and demanded action be taken.

There must be consequences for the perpetrators of this abuse and for those who turned a blind eye and failed to look out for Grace. We need to start treating whistleblowers with the respect they deserve. There is a lesson to be learned from this scandal, and from the cases involving Maurice McCabe, Jonathan Sugarman, Tom Clonan, Anthony O'Brien and all the others. There must be consequences for wrongdoing and whistleblowers need our support, not our suspicion or, worse, our contempt. This Government must enact the protected disclosures (amendment) Bill 2021 and give effect to the relevant European directive.

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