A Commission of Investigation into 'Grace' foster abuse case, has found the intellectually disabled woman was placed in the care of foster parents, despite them both having criminal convictions.
The Examiner reports that the investigation also highlighted 'systemic failings' by the South Eastern Health Board (SEHB).
The Farrelly Commission was set up to investigate the circumstances around the referral of 'Grace' and 46 other intellectually disabled children and young adults to a foster home in the South East over three decades.
An interim report, seen by the Examiner newspaper, says Grace was neglected to a point where she suffered repeated injuries to her body, required 'significant dental work' and instances of inappropriate stripping went unreported.
It identifies specific failings by health workers who were were charged with Grace’s car, including a failure to remove her from the home, securing her legal status after turning 18 and for failing to act on warnings as to her health and well-being.
However, the investigation cleared former Health ministers Michael Noonan and Austin Currie over their handling of the case in 1996, after a decision to remove Grace from the home was controversially overturned after the foster father wrote a letter to Mr Noonan.
The report also found the unnamed foster parents both had convictions for theft.
It's expected the Government will grant the Commission one final extension to allow it to conclude its work by July of next year.
