Incest case children 'failed by the system'
The children at the heart of the incest case which detailed years of sexual abuse and neglect were spectacularly failed by the system, a family law expert said today.
Geoffrey Shannon said serious questions need to be answered as to how six children could suffer at the hands of a depraved mother and father for so many years.
Their 52-year-old father was jailed for 12 and a half years after he was convicted of 47 charges of anal rape, oral rape and sexual assault against the eldest son over a three-year period.
His ex-wife was sentenced last year to seven years for a catalogue of harrowing neglect, including forcing another son to have sex with her.
“It would appear that the children in this case were spectacularly failed by the system,” said Mr Shannon. “There are a number of questions that will need to be addressed.”
It emerged during court proceedings that social services first became aware of the family as far back as 1989, but it was not until 1996 that they became actively involved in the case.
Four years later they attempted to take the youngsters into care but were blocked when the alcoholic mother – supported financially by a Catholic right-wing organisation – secured a High Court injunction to stop the move.
By the time the children were finally removed from the family home in the west of Ireland in 2004 they had suffered years of abuse and neglect.
The boys had also suffered a litany of sexual attacks from both parents.
An inquiry in to the how social services dealt with the family is being led by Norah Gibbons of children’s charity Barnardo’s.
Rape Crisis Network Ireland (RCNI) said the case exposed the complexity and devastation of incest and familial abuse.
“These children are faced with almost impossible choices,” said Fiona Neary, RCNI director.
“The inadequacies and impotence of social services and child protection responses must be addressed.”
Mr Shannon, a special rapporteur on child protection for the Government, said serious questions will have to be answered.
He said people need to know if the Health Service Executive (HSE) failed to protect the children from neglect – which is its duty – and whether there were risk indicators during the 10 years it took for health chiefs to apply for a care order.
“Remember 10 years is a long time in a child’s life. Most children grow from being a child to adulthood within that period of time,” he added.
The HSE said the probe into its role can be completed now all criminal proceedings are finished.
“The HSE commissioned the independent investigation to ensure that any failure in the system is brought to light and can be learned from and so that vulnerable children are better protected in future,” said a spokesperson.
“Cognisant that criminal proceedings were pending, it was not possible for the inquiry team to proceed to finality until the matter before the courts was resolved. This was necessary in the interests of fair procedures for all parties.
“The completion, and subsequent publication, of the independent investigation will now take place in due course.”
