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THREE OF THE five staff involved in the decision-making surrounding care in the ‘Grace’ case were given promotions, the Dáil Public Accounts Committee (PAC) has heard.
The Grace case concerns a young woman with intellectual disabilities who was in care.
Allegations arose that she had suffered years of abuse, but despite the claims she remained at the home for 20 years.
Details of the case emerged after whistleblowers who are employed by the service provider which now cares for Grace made protected disclosures about her previous care.
In April, a €6.3 million settlement for Grace was approved by the High Court. A Commission of Investigation into the case has been established by the Government.
Promotions
In previous appearances before the PAC, Health Service Executive (HSE) Director General Tony O’Brien told committee members that three staff members who were involved in Grace’s care are in receipt of full HSE pensions.
Appearing before the committee this morning, O’Brien said staff members were also given promotions.
He said one member of staff, referred to as H3, was promoted on 1 December 1991.
Another staff member, H7, was promoted on the 10 June 1996 and remained on that grade until retirement in 2010.
O’Brien confirmed that in total, three were promoted during the course of their careers.
Sinn Féin’s David Cullinane asked O’Brien if he was aware of the allegations made by the service provider that now cares for Grace that it had had its funding reduced following the protected disclosures.
“Yes, I have acknowledged that,” said O’Brien.
Cullinane asked if the HSE refuted such an allegation. O’Brien answered:
“Actually, no.”
I want to be clear what I am saying “no” to. I am aware of the allegation. I have discussed the allegation with the organisation concerned and with this committee on several occasions. At corporate level, the HSE has not refuted that allegation.
What I have done is that I have commissioned a review into two key aspects. One is the funding provided for the care of the person we refer to as Grace.
The other is the other funding relating to the other aspects of the funding relationship between the HSE and that area and the organisation. I have made a clear commitment that if this review indicates that there was unfair treatment, then it would be put right and dealt with.
Apology
The HSE boss said he had no hesitation in apologising to the service provider, and by extension, the whistleblower.
“I have no hesitation, on behalf of the HSE, in apologising to the service provider and, by extension, the whistleblower and to the whistleblower and, by extension, the service provider for the fact that it was necessary to agree to pay to it €600,000 to cover the costs of past services that it had provided. The agreement does deal with future costs and so on,” said O’Brien.
It’s understood the service provider received a settlement of €600,000 following the High Court proceedings initiated on behalf of Grace.
O’Brien added:
The second part is in relation to whether there was discrimination against the service provider. I will not offer an apology in relation to that until I have ascertained the facts because it would be somewhat hollow to do so.
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A country corrupt to the core. Might as well throw our hats at it and do the system for every penny you can, there’s no possible hope for change at this stage, we as a race are beyond redemption.
Unions unions unions………….
Does not matter what a person does, public sec unions will demand full pay, full pension, increments etc. Connelly would die with the shame
@Karl Alldritt: unions and managment google St John of God topups and HSE Audit which the Journal wont cover like Pat Hickey miss selling tickets .
@Tommy Browne: got promoted they should have got jail.
@Karl Alldritt: No need to blame unions when the top brass and head sheds are world champions at playing pass the buck and dodge the bullet. Can’t blame the junior levels for doing what the top brass does best.
@Steven Moens: The union members & junior levels let Grace down.
More apologies from HSE but no accountability,no consequences.
Noonan is directly responsible for the fate of Grace. His intervention, going against social workers who wanted Grace removed from the abusive home, left her to languish for years with abusive carers.
People will be held responsible for Noonan’s actions, while he toddles off into the sunshine. Corruption abounds.
Of course they were. This is Ireland after all where wrongdoings and cronyism is rewarded.. it’s even at the stage you get a job without even applying just ask attorney general. Shameful carry on in this country and even more shameful.. allowed to happen.
If all the recordings of Tony O Brien,apologising for the “Evil Empire”where played from end to end it would last for hours
He is the most professional apologist ,I have heard ,Time for this hollow man to begone
Lack of accountability is rife in Ireland. Moving incompetent people up the ladder is common place and frustrating for those competent people under them.
Tony of Brien is one of the worse persons ever to be employed in this country and will sail off into the sunset with a massive lump sum and golden pension.
Of course they were. It’s Ireland. Do wrong here and instead of being removed from the job…it’s up the ladder they go.
Our hospital and welfare system for the care of our very vulnerable citizens is rotten to the core and until such time that every person working in these places are ousted all the old guard nothing will ever change and they hide everything to protect themselves. I have even seen family members of staff waiting in the kitchen of the peds unit of a hospital waiting for the plates of food no used by paitents give to these family member to take home and yet the parent of a special needs child told they couldn’t have any food they would have to leave their child to get it. They wouldn’t pour you a glass of water if you were dying it not part of their job discription.
Yes, I know that is correct because the Garda who harassed my family and me to such an extent that they were promoted to higher rank.
The Master of double-talk and gobbledegook (Tony O’Brien) giving an Academy Award-winning performance (as usual) The Chief Bullshitter On Behalf Of The HSE. Despite my best efforts, and a copious amount of research, NO-ONE HAS EVER BEEN SACKED BY THE HSE……..they’ve retired a fair few incompetents (with princely salaries)…but Tony’s chair is nailed to his arse (he’s going nowhere)…until his pension has been safeguarded…then he’ll ‘retire’….Jeez, what a country
This country is so corrupt…..
. a lot of swamps to be drained in Ireland.
What? How could this happen in lovely shIny SECULAR IRELAND?? Turns out secular Ireland is ROTTEN TO THE CORE.
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