"Grace never had a hope."
That was the view of one social worker in response to the final report of the Farrelly Commission into the 'Grace' foster home abuse case this afternoon.
After eight years of investigation, the Commission identified significant failures in Grace's care, highlighting systemic issues and a lack of oversight that led to prolonged neglect.
The almost 2,000-page document published today features the word "abuse" 342 times and the word "bruising" 72 times.
However, the inquiry was not satisfied that the evidence was such to establish that marks or bruises sustained by Grace were due to her being subjected to physical abuse.
In 2007, a social worker warned that Grace was vulnerable to abuse and exploitation in the areas of sexual abuse, financial abuse, physical abuse and neglect.
This followed a previous allegation in the 1990s.
A handover report by a social work team leader in 2009 stated that there had been "a number of serious concerns" for the protection of Grace.
This included an observation that Grace had "numerous minor injuries" during her attendance at day service, and on one occasion earlier in 2009, had "bruising to her breast and thighs" which, it said, "appeared to be fingertip bruising".
The report by the social worker also said that she had "at times displayed behaviours that are possibly indicative of sexual abuse" which required further investigation by the HSE and gardaí, though it added that there was "no evidence that [she] had been sexually abused".
The handover report stated that Grace had also shown signs of neglect, adding that those issues were now being addressed.
Finally, it stated that Grace had "no money to her name" and had "no savings" and no possessions "other than a few old clothes".
Minister for Children Norma Foley said the circumstances of Grace's case were harrowing, distressing and without doubt had a devastating impact on her quality of life.
"It goes without saying that what Grace experienced was both intolerable and utterly unacceptable," she said.
Minister Foley outlined areas where there have been improvements in the area of child safeguarding in recent years including the creation of the Ombudsman for Children's Office; the establishment of Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA); the establishment of Tusla, the Child and Family Agency; and the commencement of the Children First Act.
However, given that there are children in unregulated emergency accommodation, or in emergency International Protection Accommodation centres that are not inspected by HIQA, many are arguably continuing to fall through the cracks.
Investigations regarding allegations over the abuse of vulnerable people in residential facilities during Covid-19 lockdowns are also underway and have yet to reach a conclusion.
The case of 'Emily', who was raped in a nursing home in 2020 resulted in commitments to progress adult safeguarding legislation.
However, this has yet to come to fruition.
Today, a spokesperson for the Department said policy proposals would be "brought before Government in the coming months, and that the preparation of related underpinning legislation will commence thereafter.".
Read more:
'Grace' case report unable to establish physical or sexual abuse
'Grace' report comes after years of concerns and scrutiny
Minister Foley suggested today that the HSE had questions to answer following the publication of the Farrelly Commission report, but she did point out that safeguarding policy had been introduced by the HSE in recent years and a chief social worker employed.
Again, none of this is underpinned by adult safeguarding legislation.
Asked about whether an investigation into the other 47 families whose relatives were placed at the home at the same time as Grace will now not take place, Minister Foley said in 40 of these cases, no allegations were raised.
But she said that of the remaining seven, two involved "specifically very serious allegations of sexual abuse".
The Government intends to undertake an expert-driven, non-statutory safeguarding exercise to "identify learnings" from the Commission’s findings to" inform present day safeguarding policies and practices".
The seven people and/or their representatives will be invited to participate in this exercise, to share their lived experience, if they wish to do so.
The social worker in question welcomed the safeguarding review proposal - viewing this medium of investigation far more comprehensive for vulnerable people than a commission of inquiry.
