Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has said that the case of a nursing home resident who was sexually assaulted by a healthcare assistant was a “hugely distressing and shocking affair” that warrants further investigation.
He said that a safeguarding expert from abroad will be appointed to gain a greater understanding of the issues at the facility.
Mr Varadkar told TDs that the incident, which took place in a HSE-run centre three years ago, “strikes terror into the heart of anyone living in a nursing home or anyone who has a loved one in a nursing home”.
He said that care facilities are almost always safe places and that the incident only came to light because of “the cognitive clarity and the emotional strength” of the resident at the centre of the case, who is being referred to under the pseudonym Emily and who has since died.
The HSE said the “serious sexual assault” was prosecuted and convicted as rape. The Dail was told that the male healthcare assistant is serving an 11-year prison sentence for the offence.
Mr Varadkar said: “We can only at this time unreservedly apologise, condemn what happened and do all we can to ensure that safeguarding for all people in alternative care is at the highest level possible.
“Both the CEO of the HSE (Bernard Gloster) and I are not satisfied that we fully understand all of the issues at this facility, or indeed, those arising in the wider care context.
“For that reason, in the coming days, a safeguarding expert from overseas will be appointed to assist us.
“It’s important as custodians of care services for our older people that we say unequivocally that we failed Emily regardless of how much we were deceived by any one individual employee and we’re anxious to ensure that we also respect the wishes of Emily’s family for privacy.”
Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald, who raised the issue during Leaders’ Questions on Wednesday, said this was not the first safeguarding report that had reached serious conclusions.
“The review into the handling of the case has uncovered that other residents had made allegations against this same healthcare assistant in the past,” she told the Dail.
“However, their serious allegations were not followed up with a safeguarding report and some, indeed, were dismissed as residents being confused or hallucinating. None were followed up on as should have been the case in line with HSE safeguarding policy.”
She said there is “much work to be done to protect and safeguard vulnerable people”.
“Emily and the other residents who came forward to report attacks have been let down in the most horrific way and the review is damning but, Taoiseach, this isn’t the first damning report.”
She cited the Brandon report, which noted incidents of sexual abuse against a number of residents over several years at a residential care home in Co Donegal, carried out by another resident referred to as “Brandon”.
“Today’s report has to be a watershed moment,” she added.
Mr Gloster said: “Our concern today has to remain with the family of Emily, and the families we have engaged with to date, and intend to engage with further, on the wider safeguarding issues in this care facility.
“We can only at this time unreservedly apologise, condemn what happened, and do all we can to ensure that safeguarding for all people in alternative care is at the highest level of priority for us.
“Given that this was such a serious incident we are obliged to look closely at the context, the safeguarding practices in place at that time, and whether or not there are other issues of concern for us.
“The HSE will continue to engage further with the families of those who were in our care. We recognise that these issues will cause distress and concern for families of all people in care, in particular those who may be most closely associated with this case, and therefore we are taking a very careful approach to meeting, informing and supporting these families”.
