Gardaí probe allegations of abuse

AN Garda Síochána has confirmed it recently received a number of notifications from Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, in respect of historical and more recent allegations of abuse of children in the Kerry area.

The Kerryman revealed last week that Tusla had formally notified the Gardaí of concerns in relation to case files relating to suspected abuse of children in the Kerry area. The concerns arose following an internal audit carried out by Tusla, as well as after a HIQA inspection late last year.

Gardaí confirmed they are now investigating the matter, telling The Kerryman extra resources have been assigned to the work with the special Kerry Divisional Protective Services Unit as the probe gets underway into the case files.

The exact nature and number of cases of suspected abuse to be investigated is not yet clear. In a statement to The Kerryman, a spokesperson for An Garda Síochána said the exact number of notifications that may be referred to the force is a matter for Tusla:

“An Garda Síochána in the Kerry Division have recently received a number of notifications from the Child and Family Agency (Tusla) in respect of both retrospective (historical) and more recent allegations of abuse against children. This is an ongoing process and the exact number of notifications that may be referred to An Garda Síochána is ultimately a matter for the Child and Family Agency (Tusla).

“All notifications received from the Child and Family Agency (Tusla) will be examined and where appropriate will be investigated in line with our best practices, the Children’s First Act 2015 and the Children’s First Guidelines 2017.

“Additional resources have been assigned to work with the Kerry Divisional Protective Services Unit to carry out criminal investigations where identified. An Garda Síochána has no further comment at this time.”

A Tusla spokesperson told The Kerryman ‘immediate action’ was taken when the matter came to light: “We wish to reassure the public that immediate action has been taken to address these issues, which were identified internally by Tusla and notified to the relevant authorities. Following Tusla notifying An Garda Síochána, both agencies are working through a process to deal with the issues identified.”

CEO of Tusla Bernard Gloster told The Kerryman

the issues are ‘serious’: “These are very serious issues, and would not reflect the standards that could be reasonably expected today.

“While I am pleased it was our own processes that identified this issue, and while I am encouraged by the response to managing it, I want to be clear, what is at issue here is completely unacceptable in a modern-day progressive child and family service.”