Tánaiste Leo Varadkar is expected to seek ways to publish a redacted version of the Brandon Report into sexual abuse at Ard Gréine Court in Stranorlar.
The report found 108 incidents of sexual abuse perpetrated against at least 18 intellectually disabled residents by another resident at the complex between 2003 and 2016.
However, the publication of the report in full has been “blocked at every turn”, and most recently by the Attorney General due to concerns relating to victims families’ rights to confidentiality.
The matter was raised by Donegal deputies on two occasions in the Dáil yesterday.
Sinn Féin Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Tánaiste if personal information could be redacted so that the full report can be published.
Deputy Doherty said: “There are legitimate rights in the desire of some families to have the report published in full. If any family wants personal information withheld, it can be redacted and the full report published.”
Mr Varadkar said he would take up the suggestion with the Minister with Responsibility for Disabilities Deputy Anne Rabbitte.
A Topical Issues debate followed in the evening, at which Independent TD Thomas Pringle also raised the need to discuss the recently-published HIQA report into Ard Gréine Court.
Minister Rabitt echoed the call to have the report published in full, but said she could not give assurance that similar incidents hadn’t occured in ther facilities.
“I believe that the focus must be on ensuring that the findings of the recommendations of the NIRP report, are appropriately addressed.
“I think it is imperative that lessons are learned and timely improvements made in the system”, she said.
The issue at Ard Gréine Court was first raised by Donegal Deputy Thomas Pringle, who was approached by a whistleblower in 2016. The patient at the centre of the case, who was given the pseudonym ‘Brandon’, passed away in the nursing home in April 2020.
