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M-Compass Media Bringing you insightful and balanced news and opinions from Ireland and around the world.

22/02/2025

John McGuinness TD says Tusla is “not fit for purpose” following recent revelations that the Gardai are currently investigating the s*xual exploitation of more than thirty children in the care of the agency and 36 children missing from care at the end of last month. Deputy McGuinness in an interview with Gript calls for reform of the agency. https://gript.ie/td-tusla-not-fit-for-purpose-as-more-than-30-investigations-into-s*xual-exploitation-of-children-in-care/?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR1TG5GFh5cXeFCOkc8Pz5wVjN_YOJH6ZyzlXqHGJJdOxDUz_VOBMnp6XXo_aem_bEk2rj-SDdIsPZ1AvdEjBg

22/02/2025

𝐓𝐮𝐬𝐥𝐚 𝐬𝐩𝐞𝐧𝐭 €𝟐.𝟑𝐦 𝐨𝐧 𝐬𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐜𝐡𝐢𝐥𝐝𝐫𝐞𝐧 𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐞𝐚𝐬 𝐝𝐮𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐬𝐲𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐦𝐢𝐜 𝐟𝐚𝐢𝐥𝐮𝐫𝐞𝐬 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧 𝐈𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐡 𝐜𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐬𝐲𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐦

A report in today’s Irish Examiner by Ann Murphy says Tusla spent €2.3 million over the past three years on private residential care and specialist treatment for children abroad.

This expenditure, which included €748,000 in 2023 and €688,000 in 2022, was revealed in response to a parliamentary question from Deputy Clare Kerrane.

Ombudsman for Children Niall Muldoon criticized the spending as a reflection of the crisis in the system, noting that Tusla is struggling to accommodate children in its care, particularly those with complex needs.

While Tusla did not disclose the exact number of children sent abroad, it confirmed that such placements are rare and used only when necessary.

Children may require further assessment or long-term specialized intervention before returning to their communities.

The rising costs of specialist care abroad are also a concern, with Clare Kerrane, a Sinn Féin TD, calling the spending “outrageously high” and emphasizing the need for better healthcare provisions in Ireland to avoid sending children out of the country.

This spending underscores systemic issues within Tusla, including a lack of specialized facilities, increasing demand, and the financial burden of outsourcing care to other countries.

https://www.irishexaminer.com/news/arid-41579299.html #:~:text=Life%20Hacks-,Tusla%20spent%20€2.3m%20on%20private%20residential,for%20children%20needing%20specialist%20treatment&text=The%20€2.3m%20spent,to%20the%20Ombudsman%20for%20Children.

21/02/2025

No men in women's sport: Trump doubles down...President Donald Trump has at a meeting of state Governors warned the Governor of Maine that the state had better comply with new laws banning men in women's sports.

In an astonishingly forthright exchange Trump honed in on the Maine Governor and demanded she implement the new Federal laws. The Governor responded that she would comply with state and Federal laws and would see him as Court. As the exchange continued President Trump said the Governor is unlikely to be Governor for long as she won't win the next election. Watch the video below.

21/02/2025

𝐓𝐨𝐝𝐚𝐲 𝐢𝐬 𝐂𝐀𝐑𝐄 𝐃𝐀𝐘 𝐰𝐡𝐢𝐜𝐡 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐦𝐨𝐭𝐞𝐬 𝐠𝐨𝐨𝐝 𝐧𝐞𝐰𝐬 𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐓𝐮𝐬𝐥𝐚. 𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐰𝐨𝐧’𝐭 𝐛𝐞 𝐭𝐨𝐥𝐝 𝐂𝐡𝐢𝐥𝐝𝐫𝐞𝐧 𝐭𝐚𝐤𝐞𝐧 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐨 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐜𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐛𝐲 𝐓𝐮𝐬𝐥𝐚 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞𝐥𝐲 𝐭𝐨 𝐞𝐧𝐝 𝐮𝐩 𝐡𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐬𝐬, 𝐢𝐧 𝐩𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐨𝐧 𝐨𝐫 𝐢𝐧𝐜𝐚𝐫𝐜𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐢𝐧 𝐚 𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐥 𝐡𝐨𝐬𝐩𝐢𝐭𝐚𝐥 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐢𝐫 𝐩𝐞𝐞𝐫𝐬

Research consistently highlights the existence of poorer outcomes among children in care compared to their peers who have not been in care, in areas such as educational attainment or qualifications, employment, crime, homelessness, mental health problems and substance abuse (Mc Sherry et al., 2013; Walsh et al., 2018).

The transition from state care to independent living presents significant challenges for young people in Ireland. Research indicates that care leavers are disproportionately represented among populations experiencing homelessness, mental health crises, and incarceration.

1. Homelessness Among Care Leavers

A substantial number of young people exiting state care in Ireland encounter housing instability.

Factors such as placement breakdowns, multiple relocations, entering care at an older age, and experiences in residential settings contribute to this vulnerability. These elements often disrupt the development of stable support networks and essential life skills, increasing the risk of homelessness. A literature review by the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration, and Youth highlights the correlation between these factors and adverse outcomes, including homelessness. (https://assets.gov.ie/251292/edb6d3cf-9abf-4808-97fd-5df9d307f0e5.pdf?utm_source=chatgpt.com)

2. Mental Health Challenges

Care leavers are at an elevated risk for mental health issues, including depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The instability inherent in the care system, coupled with prior experiences of abuse or neglect, exacerbates these challenges. A study focusing on outcomes for young people leaving care in Ireland found that mental health difficulties are prevalent among this group, often stemming from their tumultuous backgrounds and the lack of consistent support during critical developmental periods https://www.researchgate.net/publication/363882239_Outcomes_for_Young_People_Leaving_Care_in_Ireland_Outcomes_for_Young_People_Leaving_Care_in_Ireland?utm_source=chatgpt.com

3. Incarceration Rates

There is a notable overrepresentation of individuals with care experience within the criminal justice system. Research by the Irish Penal Reform Trust indicates that placement instability, lack of support, and unmet emotional needs contribute to behaviors that increase the likelihood of criminal involvement. The absence of a stable support system and inadequate preparation for independent living are significant factors leading to such outcomes. https://www.iprt.ie/site/assets/files/6489/care-and-justice-web.pdf?utm_source=chatgpt.com

4. Contributing Factors

Several interrelated factors contribute to adverse outcomes for children taken into state care by Tusla on exiting the system.

(i) Placement Instability

It is not uncommon for children to have multiple care placements. This has been highlighted in a number of reports by the Child Law Project.

On the publication of its final report last July, Dr Maria Corbett, CEO of the CLP said: “Many children are experiencing multiple placement moves, often over a short period of time, despite stability being a known key ingredient for a successful outcome to care. Urgent action across government is needed to halt this spiral of poor practice and to build trust in the care system.”

Frequent moves and lack of a consistent caregiving environment hinder the development of secure attachments and life skills.

Dr Corbett said: “Of particular concern in this volume are a number of cases where there was concern that the child was being s*xually or criminally exploited and the level of support in their current care placement was not sufficient to stabilise them and address these risks.” https://www.irishlegal.com/articles/child-law-project-reports-highlight-care-system-in-crisis

(ii)Insufficient Aftercare Support:

Limited access to resources and guidance post-care leaves young people ill-prepared for independent living. The Irish Aftercare Network says that there must be more to support young people leaving care, many of whom have suffered significant trauma during childhood. https://www.focusireland.ie/press-release/irish-aftercare-network-calls-for-more-support-for-young-people-leaving-care/

(iii) Educational Disruptions:

Children taken by Tusla into state care are often accommodated a long way from home, often in a different county.

Interrupted schooling leads to lower educational attainment, reducing employment opportunities and financial stability.

As a specific cohort, children in care have, on average, some of the lowest levels of educational attainment in comparison to their noncare experienced peers.https://hea.ie/assets/uploads/2024/08/EPIC.pdf

(iv)Mental Health Issues:

Unaddressed psychological trauma manifests in mental health disorders, influencing behavior and decision-making processes. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/363882239_Outcomes_for_Young_People_Leaving_Care_in_Ireland_Outcomes_for_Young_People_Leaving_Care_in_Ireland

5. Recommendations for Improvement

To enhance outcomes for care leavers, the following strategies are recommended:
1. Enhanced Aftercare Services: Implement comprehensive support programs that provide housing assistance, mental health services, and educational opportunities to facilitate a smoother transition to independence.

2. Stable Placements: Prioritize placement stability within the care system to foster secure attachments and consistent support networks.

3. Educational Support: Ensure uninterrupted access to education and vocational training to improve future employment prospects.

4. Mental Health Interventions: Provide timely and accessible mental health services to address trauma and prevent the escalation of psychological issues.

5. Data Collection and Research: Conduct longitudinal studies to monitor care leavers’ outcomes, informing policy and practice to better meet their needs.

Conclusion

Young people transitioning from state care in Ireland face significant challenges that increase their risk of homelessness, mental health crises, and involvement with the criminal justice system. Addressing these issues requires a multifaceted approach focused on stability, support, and opportunity to foster successful integration into society.

21/02/2025

Notable differences between Child s*xual abuse material convictions: Recently in Co Louth a Dundalk based man was convicted for possession of s*xual material depicting children . He was convicted of possessing 11 videos and 6 images. The majority of the children were estimated to be between 10 and 12 years old and much of the material involved exposure rather than s*xual activity. The writer is in no way deminishing the vulgarity of the crimes just described when pointing out the ratios of exposure images/videos to s*xual activity images/videos. This is done to formulate an awareness in the readers mind of the detail and the fact that the perpetrator received an 18 months sentence, 9 of those months suspended. These details are central to the matter of disparity in sentencing in these cases, a disparity with one figure standing out more than any, Justice Martin Nolan.

A simple Google search using the search words "justice Nolan indecent images case" brings up lists of cases reported in mainstream media in which Justice Nolan has given fully suspended sentences. Horrific cases such as the recent case where the perpetrator had 26 videos and 57 images deemed Category 1 images, the most cruel and repulsive of all. Justice Nolan gave him a fully suspended sentence.

Or the case of the man with 10,000 indecent images of children given a fully suspended sentence by Justice Nolan. In another Justice Nolan case a man with 4,000 images and videos with some of the children as young as three were reportedly deemed as "serious" and "explicit" by justice Nolan but was "at the lower end of the scale".

In light of the first case mentioned in this article in which a Dundalk man was convicted for 18 months for possession just over 50 images, many not involving s*xual activity, and must serve 9 months, how can Justice Nolan rationalise his repeated suspending of sentences for more serious offences? How can the Judiciary tolerate this? And finally, how can we as a nation have faith that the punishment for possession of child s*xual abuse materials is actually dissuasive towards would be perpetrators?

At the moment if you live within the confines of Justice Martin Nolan's jurisdiction and are in possession of such disgusting materials you can have a certain confidence in your future freedoms irrespective of whether you are caught or not. At least that's the optics seen from the public galleries.

21/02/2025

𝐆𝐚𝐫𝐝𝐚 𝐢𝐧𝐯𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐠𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐞𝐱𝐮𝐚𝐥 𝐞𝐱𝐩𝐥𝐨𝐢𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐨𝐟 𝐜𝐡𝐢𝐥𝐝𝐫𝐞𝐧 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐜𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐓𝐮𝐬𝐥𝐚

A front page report in today’s Irish Times by Jack Power says Gardaí are conducting 36 active investigations into the suspected grooming and s*xual exploitation of children in State care, an issue that has become a major concern for Tusla, Ireland’s child and family agency. A dedicated Garda operation has been established to address these cases. Reports indicate that teenage girls in care are often targeted by older men who groom them with gifts and attention, later coercing them into s*xual acts with others. Ruth Breslin from the Sexual Exploitation Research and Policy Institute highlighted the vulnerability of these children, noting that perpetrators may manipulate them into believing they are in a relationship, only to exploit them further.
Currently, around 5,800 children are in State care, mostly with foster carers, though 530 reside in group homes managed by Tusla or private entities. In 2024, Tusla reported 28 cases of suspected s*xual exploitation of children in care to gardaí, alongside 20 cases involving children outside the care system. Tusla has introduced a centralized reporting system and acknowledges the heightened risk to vulnerable youth. However, staffing shortages have limited secure unit capacity, with only 14 of 26 beds operational, leaving some at-risk children without adequate protection. Gardaí have 36 ongoing investigations but declined to provide further details.

20/02/2025

Táiniste Simon Harris has lambasted the manner in which Hamas has handed over deceased Israeli hostages' bodies to Israeli authorities. Harris, speaking from South Africa, described the hand over as "parading" the bodies and "cruel, heartbreaking and utterly despicable".

Hamas had the bodies transferred with military guards on the back of trucks,similar to how they transfer their own high profile dead during funeral processions.

Thousands came onto the streets to witness the transfer.

Four soldiers carried each coffin to its destination in funeral step when both loading and then unloading them from the trucks.

The transfer of the bodies of the hostages may be seen by some as "cruel" and "despicable", but other commentators have received it as respectful and equal to how Hamas would treat their own most honoured dead. It is up to each individual to perceive the transfer of the bodies of Israeli hostages held by Hamas as they see fit but historical and cultural context may be advised for a clearer picture.

What is not being said by the likes of Simon Harris is the cruel and despicable way Israel has returned Palestinian hostages, some murdered in torture camps. Returned wrapped in plastic bags and dumped.

Each and every death in the conflict in Palestine and Israel is a travesty. Both sides took hostages. Hostages died. It may be more respectful to the dead that leadership avoids hypocrisy and expressions of selective disgust.

20/02/2025

𝐑𝐞𝐦𝐨𝐯𝐚𝐥 𝐨𝐟 𝐍𝐞𝐰𝐛𝐨𝐫𝐧 𝐁𝐚𝐛𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐢𝐬 𝐚 𝐜𝐫𝐢𝐦𝐞 𝐚𝐠𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐬𝐭 𝐡𝐮𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐲. 𝐓𝐮𝐬𝐥𝐚 𝐝𝐨𝐞𝐬 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐫𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐧𝐮𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫 𝐨𝐟 𝐧𝐞𝐰𝐛𝐨𝐫𝐧𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐲 𝐭𝐚𝐤𝐞 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐨 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐜𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐚𝐭 𝐛𝐢𝐫𝐭𝐡

Some of the 200,000 unmarried mothers who were forced to give their babies up for adoption in Britain are now campaigning for an official apology from the Government. Full news report https://youtu.be/CWek8gGEVJA?si=2hYKQBLvXgHLYRhu

The Alliance of Birth Mothers Campaigning for Justice interviewed twenty mothers for its 𝐽𝑢𝑠𝑡𝑖𝑐𝑒 𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝐵𝑖𝑟𝑡ℎ 𝑀𝑜𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑟𝑠 podcast series. This is what some mothers had to say about their children taken at birth by Tusla https://open.spotify.com/episode/3BMesqRAorYGhIq5OJDE3T?si=0TdqIfoPQ36hF6SgSZmlqA

20/02/2025

𝐒𝐈𝐋𝐄𝐍𝐂𝐄𝐃: 𝐇𝐨𝐰 𝐈𝐫𝐞𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐝’𝐬 𝐅𝐚𝐦𝐢𝐥𝐲 𝐂𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐭𝐬 𝐀𝐫𝐞 𝐃𝐞𝐧𝐲𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐂𝐡𝐢𝐥𝐝𝐫𝐞𝐧 𝐓𝐡𝐞𝐢𝐫 𝐋𝐞𝐠𝐚𝐥 𝐄𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐭𝐥𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐓𝐨 𝐇𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐓𝐡𝐞𝐢𝐫 𝐕𝐨𝐢𝐜𝐞𝐬 𝐇𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐝

Currently, Ireland is denying children their legal entitlement to have their voice heard in the family court.

Rights of the Child

Rights enshrined by Article 12 of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child provide that children and young people should have the opportunity to have their perspectives included and considered in legal proceedings that affect them.

Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights suggests that children should have the right to attend a court hearing where the case impacts on their right to family life.

Voice of the child in the UK

Research conducted in the UK published by the Nuffield Family Justice Observatory found that currently there’s no universal process in England or Wales to ensure that children’s voices are systematically heard in private family law cases.

This means the court will often make decisions about a child’s life without hearing from them directly, or explaining the decisions of the court in a way a child can understand.https://www.nuffieldfjo.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Child_participation_08-02-24.pdf

Guardian ad Litems in Irish Family Courts

In the Irish family court system, a Guardian ad Litem (GAL) is supposedly an independent professional appointed to represent the best interests of a child in legal proceedings.

Their role is primarily used in cases involving child welfare, such as child protection cases brought by the Child and Family Agency (Tusla) under the Child Care Act 1991.

A GAL is typically a former social worker or child care professional who is supposed to have expertise in child advocacy.

They assess the child’s circumstances by engaging with the child, their family, social workers, and other relevant parties. The GAL then provides the court with an independent report detailing the child’s wishes, feelings, and best interests.

GALs are expected to be impartial, acting solely in the child’s best interests rather than representing any other party. While the GAL provides recommendations, the final decision lies with the judge.

In Ireland, there have been ongoing discussions about formalising GAL regulations through legislation to ensure consistency and oversight. The Child Care (Amendment) Act 2022 aims to introduce a statutory framework for GALs, enhancing their role and accountability within the Irish family court system.

In response to a written question from Deputy Bernard Durkan on the Gal system, Minister Roderic O’Gorman replied Thursday, 24 October 2024 saying: “The current system has been widely criticised for its lack of transparency surrounding the selection, registration and vetting of GALS, the lack of competitive tendering for legal representatives and high rates paid to GALs in comparison with other jurisdictions.”

The Minister went on to say: “Against this backdrop my Department has a programme of reform of the GAL system underway as a matter of strategic priority. The Child Care (Amendment) Act 2022, which provides for reform of the GAL system, was signed into law on 19 July 2022. This Act enables me as Minister to establish a new GAL service, which will address the concerns raised and provide a standardised and regulated national service.

The main purpose of the Child Care (Amendment) Act 2022 is to extend and regulate the guardian ad litem system for children involved in child care proceedings. The provisions of this Act are intended to enhance the rights of children and the capacity of the courts to make the right decisions in helping children and their families.”

He concluded: “In the coming weeks it is my intention to announce the appointment of the Director for the new Service.” https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/debates/question/2024-10-24/48/

The election was called two weeks later, there was no announcement of a new director and currently we have a Gal system that is 💯 unregulated.

Providing Gal services is a lucrative business. The most recent annual report published by Tusla shows €10.5 million was paid to Gals in 2023. Providing legal representation for gals cost just under €7 million.https://www.tusla.ie/uploads/content/Tusla_-_Annual_Report_and_Financial_Statements_2023.pdf

The Alliance of Birth Mothers Campaigning for Justice interviewed twenty mothers for its 𝐽𝑢𝑠𝑡𝑖𝑐𝑒 𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝐵𝑖𝑟𝑡ℎ 𝑀𝑜𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑟𝑠 podcast series. This is what they had to say about Gals: https://open.spotify.com/episode/15tMNOoExgkUfUpT1edVIu?si=eTME9mnHSwiM9LuzYmVwig

Conclusion

Without comprehensive reform, Ireland's family courts will continue to fall short of their obligation to protect and uphold the rights of children to have their voices heard in legal proceedings.

20/02/2025

𝟑𝟔 𝐂𝐡𝐢𝐥𝐝𝐫𝐞𝐧 𝐦𝐢𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐂𝐚𝐫𝐞 – 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐃𝐞𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐬 𝐀𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧!

Mecpaths, an Irish organization working to prevent child trafficking, is seeking a meeting with Minister Norma Foley to discuss concerns regarding missing children in State care. This follows a Tusla report revealing that 36 children under State care are missing, including 13 categorized as trafficking victims and three missing from “mainstream care.” Some of these children have been missing for over a month.

Mecpaths, the only Irish non-profit focused on child trafficking prevention, aims to raise awareness and improve collaboration among professionals. The organization highlighted growing concerns that children and young people in Ireland are being trafficked for s*xual exploitation, with networks operating across the country.

Tusla follows a joint protocol with An Garda Síochána when children in care go missing, and it has acknowledged the risks of trafficking, particularly for those in residential settings. Reports, including the 2020 Child Sexual Exploitation protocol, emphasize the need for better protections.

The meeting request coincides with Care Day, an initiative celebrating the experiences of children in care in Ireland and the UK. Mecpaths hopes the discussion will lead to stronger measures to prevent trafficking and ensure better safeguarding for vulnerable children in State care.

19/02/2025

What a Liberty! Irish media is reporting that Taoiseach Micheál Martin has touted committing sending Irish Troops to Ukraine as "peacekeepers".

Martin attended a hastily convened European leaders security conference called by President Macron of France.

The conference is being seen by many as an attempt by European leaders to be relevant after President Trump excluded them from peace talks.

It is reported that Russia has already objected to the idea of EU forces on the ground in Ukraine in the light of the breaching of both Minsk agreements which had been brokered and guaranteed by both France and Germany.

The Taoiseach's generosity in volunteering Ireland's troops to a "peacekeeping" force that will be viewed as coming from the enemy camp is somewhat presumptuous to say the least. The writer is unaware of any discussion in the Dáil and no public debate on the issue. As one of the Comedian Catherine Tate's character's was want to say "What a Liberty!"

19/02/2025

𝐀𝐦𝐢𝐝𝐬𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐞𝐱𝐭𝐫𝐞𝐦𝐞 𝐦𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐦𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐨𝐧 𝐚 𝐝𝐚𝐢𝐥𝐲 𝐛𝐚𝐬𝐢𝐬 𝐛𝐲 𝐬𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐓𝐮𝐬𝐥𝐚 𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐨𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐥, 𝐆𝐚𝐫𝐝𝐚𝐢́, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐅𝐚𝐦𝐢𝐥𝐲 𝐂𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐭 𝐚𝐠𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬, 𝐬𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐞𝐬 𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐨𝐧𝐥𝐲 𝐡𝐨𝐩𝐞 𝐢𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐩𝐫𝐚𝐲 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐣𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐞 𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐛𝐞 𝐝𝐨𝐧𝐞

19/02/2025

𝐓𝐔𝐒𝐋𝐀 𝐒𝐂𝐀𝐍𝐃𝐀𝐋: 𝐅𝐚𝐥𝐬𝐞 𝐀𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐠𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐦𝐚𝐝𝐞 𝐛𝐲 𝐬𝐨𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐮𝐥𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐢𝐧 𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐜𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐫𝐞𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐜𝐮𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐯𝐢𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐬!

Tusla, Ireland’s Child and Family Agency, has faced significant scrutiny over false allegations made by its social workers, particularly affecting mothers.

In one notable case, a mother sought support from Tusla in early 2018 for her 15-year-old son, who was exhibiting behavioral issues. However, due to a copy-and-paste error in Tusla’s records, she was incorrectly accused of “parental alcohol misuse,” despite abstaining from alcohol due to a medical condition. This erroneous information remained in her case file, leading to severe distress and prompting her to pursue legal action against the agency. Tusla’s internal review acknowledged the mistake, attributing it to the use of an unredacted template, and issued an apology for the oversight.

Aontú leader Peadar Toibin raised this case in the Dáil in February 2022 and alleged that Minister Roderic O’Gorman didn’t tell the truth about when he first found out about the case https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=932853920757743&vanity=100071407777680

Deputy Toibin raised it again in February 2023 https://www.facebook.com/share/r/1Gaixrd7AW/?mibextid=wwXIfr

In another notable case, Garda whistleblower Sergeant Maurice McCabe was the subject of a false s*xual abuse allegation due to a clerical error by Tusla, Ireland’s Child and Family Agency. In 2013, a counsellor mistakenly included serious abuse claims in Sgt McCabe’s file by pasting information from an unrelated case. This erroneous report was forwarded to both Tusla and the Gardaí, leading to significant distress for Sgt McCabe and his family. Despite the counsellor recognizing and reporting the mistake in 2014, the incorrect information remained on file. It wasn’t until 2016 that Sgt McCabe was informed of the false allegations, prompting legal action and a public inquiry into Tusla’s handling of the case. The incident highlighted systemic issues within the agency, including inadequate oversight and verification processes, which can have severe repercussions for those falsely accused. https://www.thejournal.ie/tusla-mccabe-3232737-Feb2017/?utm_source=chatgpt.com

In an opinion piece in the Irish Examiner 10 July 2024, award winning journalist, Mick Clifford asked “Has anything really changed at Tusla?” since the Maurice McCabe scandal. He wrote: “The path taken was to circle wagons rather than come out with hands up…..What we don’t know is what if anything has changed in the child and family agency.” https://www.irishexaminer.com/opinion/commentanalysis/arid-41433022.html

The Alliance of Birth Mothers Campaigning for Justice interviewed twenty mothers for its 𝐽𝑢𝑠𝑡𝑖𝑐𝑒 𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝐵𝑖𝑟𝑡ℎ 𝑀𝑜𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑟𝑠 podcast series. This is what they had to say about the false allegations made against them by Tusla social workers https://open.spotify.com/episode/6fUPSjLjW45vLO9huTLyby?si=k7GBQwH2SICAodANfuBSEA

These cases underscore systemic issues within Tusla, including inadequate oversight and verification processes, which can result in severe emotional and legal repercussions for the affected families. The agency has faced criticism for its handling of such cases, with calls for comprehensive reforms to prevent the recurrence of similar incidents.

19/02/2025

When the spin is as bad as the truth: Minister Norma Foley has publicly stated that all IPAS applicants are vetted. Now we all know how unlikely that is to be a fact but let's say it is true for the purpose of extrapolation.

If every applicant is vetted then the vetting system itself must be of a very low quality.

We saw over the weekend a serious knife incident in Dublin involving recently arrived Asylum Applicants according to reports. The victim is reported widely to have been living in Italy but was on the run in Ireland following serious criminal charges in Italy. This is not a one off. We are seeing an increasing number of cases where crimes committed in Ireland by recent arrivals reveal under investigation that the accused have serious criminal records in other states.

We can only conclude one of two explanations if Minister Foley and others are being truthful when saying everyone is vetted.

Explanation A, that the vetting methodology is seriously flawed, or Explanation B, that known criminals are being facilitated by the state to enter the country.

Let's extrapolate Explanation A for a few lines. To the common observer vetting means proving a person's true identity via contacts with the state in which they were born, grew up in etc. It also means looking at that proven person's state records, especially any criminal record. This depth of vetting is clearly not happening funditus if at all.

A big deal is made by Ministers and civil servants about finger printing and retina scans and databases but that is not vetting but rather the beginnings of a vetting mechanism that in fact serves to copper-fasten the false identities used by many entering the state.

Explanation B, that the state is knowingly facilitating criminals entering the state, unlikely but in today's world nothing can be ruled out.

No matter what way you look at it, no matter who you believe, the vetting system for IPAS applicants arriving into Ireland is failing.

19/02/2025

The Child Law Project reports on what was happening in the family courts for hearings on children taken by Tusla into state care ended last June when then Children’s Minister Roderic O’Gorman ceased funding the project. A report in today’s Irish Examiner says a new childcare law reporting project is expected to be established by April, after two expressions of interest have been received by the Department of Children.

https://www.irishexaminer.com/news/arid-41576875.html

18/02/2025

Garda overreach must be nipped in the bud if we are to avoid living in a police state

18/02/2025

Judge Martin Nolan has given suspended sentence to man in possession of 33 videos and 84 images which included a toddler being r***d, a boy with a disability being forced to perform oral s*x and a boy being masturbated by a male adult.

The court heard that 26 of the videos fell into category one, which is the most serious category for child s*xual abuse material, while 57 images fell into this category.

Earlier today Nolan jailed a mother who was a victim of domestic violence for neglecting her children.

https://m.sundayworld.com/crime/courts/man-caught-with-serious-child-s*xual-abuse-images-and-videos-gets-suspended-sentence/a249902742.html

https://www.rte.ie/news/courts/2025/0218/1497484-courts-neglect/

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