HSE's ‘deny everything' culture blasted over claims Grace ‘house of horrors' allegations were ‘debunked' by 8-year probe
THE HSE has a 'deny everything' culture following its handling of the Grace case, a TD has claimed.
The TD hit back saying: 'It exposes the culture within the
The commission of investigation was established in 2017 to look into the
It said the evidence did not exist to support findings she was subjected to sexual, emotional or physical abuse.
However, the commission criticised the HSE for their failings, including to oversee Grace's care properly.
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An internal briefing note said the length of time and sky-high cost of the inquiry made it unlikely that the government would carry out any further investigation.
But it said allegations raised in the Dail about Grace living in a 'house of horrors' were reviewed by the commission and were unsupported.
The briefing said findings about her care 'flatly contradicted' statements made by Deputy McGuinness.
It said: 'The allegations made by McGuinness and others should be a main topic and the rationale why such statements were made and not based on facts.'
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Asked about the 'debunking' of claims made about the care of Grace, Mr McGuinness said he stood over the remarks he made in the Dail and elsewhere.
"He said the commission of investigation was viewed as deeply unsatisfactory by families, whistleblowers, and others involved in the case.
'DENY AND DEFLECT'
Mr McGuinness said: 'It is to again deny and deflect and to try and discredit somebody who was central to the questioning of their officials right from the very beginning.
'I was given that information by whistleblowers, by family members, by other staff who had concerns.'
The briefing said one area the HSE may come under attack over was the handling of requests for records under Freedom of Information laws.
It said this had been 'utterly inexcusable' and reflected badly on them.
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John McGuinness has hit out at the HSE's 'deny everything' culture following its handling of the Grace case
Credit: PA:Press Association
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