Ireland Urgent meeting sought after boy assaulted in care centre
A 12-year-old boy in state care, named Fionn in RTÉ reports (not his real name), was sexually assaulted twice by another resident at a HSE-funded residential care centre. The assaults were reported as occurring in early August and on 1 September 2023, and in one incident the boy was found covered in faeces after being locked in his bedroom. The centre did not notify his mother for almost three days, Tusla for three days, or gardaí for 11 days, and gardaí are investigating, with no arrest or charge reported. On 19 October 2023, Minister of State Anne Rabbitte said she was seeking an urgent meeting with the HSE, Tusla and the service provider.
- Reported18 Oct
3 reports - Arrested
- Charged
- In court
- Verdict
- Sentenced
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- A 12-year-old boy in state care, named Fionn in RTÉ reports, was the victim of two separate sexual assaults by another resident at the centre.
- During one assault, the other resident ran into the boy's bedroom while he was asleep and locked himself in with him for about four minutes.
- On one occasion the boy was found covered in faeces after being locked in his bedroom by the other resident, and staff could not find keys to unlock the door.
- Where
- The assaults took place at a HSE-funded residential care centre where the boy was staying.
- When
- The assaults are reported as happening in early August and on 1 September 2023, while RTÉ describes them as occurring in recent weeks.
- Investigation
- The centre did not notify the boy's mother for almost three days (64 hours) after the assault.
- The centre did not notify Tusla for three days and reported the incident to gardaí after 11 days.
- Gardaí are conducting a sexual abuse investigation into the incident.
- On 19 October 2023, Minister of State for Disabilities Anne Rabbitte said she was seeking an urgent meeting with the HSE, Tusla and the service provider.
- Charges
- No arrest or charge has been reported in the articles.
- Other details
- The other resident has left the centre.
- Representatives of the care facility declined to comment on the incidents.
30 statements extracted from the articles
- whatThe boy was the victim of two separate assaults by another resident at the centre. (rte.ie)
- whatThe other resident locked himself in the boy's bedroom for about four minutes while the boy was sleeping. (rte.ie)
- whatThe boy was sexually assaulted by another resident at the centre. (rte.ie)
- whatThe boy was the victim of two separate assaults by another resident in recent weeks. (rte.ie)
- whatThe other resident ran into the boy's bedroom while he was sleeping and locked himself in with him for around four minutes. (rte.ie)
- whatCentre staff could not get access to the room during the assault. (rte.ie)
- whatA 12-year-old boy in state care was sexually assaulted in recent weeks, according to RTÉ reports. (gript.ie)
- whatThe boy was sexually assaulted by another resident on two separate occasions. (gript.ie)
- whatOn one occasion the boy was found covered in faeces after being locked into his bedroom by his abuser. (gript.ie)
- whatThe perpetrator is understood to have locked themselves in the room with the child for about four minutes while the boy was asleep. (gript.ie)
- whereThe boy was sexually assaulted at a HSE-funded residential care centre. (rte.ie)
- whereThe incident took place at a HSE-funded residential care centre. (rte.ie)
- whereThe assaults happened while the boy was staying in a HSE-run care facility. (gript.ie)
- whenThe boy was sexually assaulted by another young resident in early August. (rte.ie)
- whenThe boy was assaulted by the same resident again on 1 September. (rte.ie)
- whenThe assault described took place in September. (rte.ie)
- investigationThe centre did not notify Tusla for three days and reported the incident to gardaí after 11 days. (rte.ie)
- investigationGardaí are conducting a sexual abuse investigation into the incident. (rte.ie)
- investigationGardaí are conducting a sexual abuse investigation in connection with the incident. (rte.ie)
- investigationMinister Anne Rabbitte said she would organise a meeting with the HSE, Tusla and the service provider. (gript.ie)
- otherThe centre did not notify the boy's mother for almost three days. (rte.ie)
- otherThe perpetrator has left the centre. (rte.ie)
- otherThe centre did not notify the boy's mother for almost three days after the assault. (rte.ie)
- otherThe centre did not notify Tusla for three days. (rte.ie)
- otherThe centre reported the incident to gardaí after 11 days. (rte.ie)
- otherMinister Anne Rabbitte is seeking an urgent meeting with the HSE and Tusla. (rte.ie)
- otherStaff were unable to gain access to the room for some time. (gript.ie)
- otherThe care facility reportedly did not report the abuse to the boy's parents for 3 days. (gript.ie)
- otherThe care facility reportedly failed to inform gardaí for 11 days after the incident. (gript.ie)
- otherRepresentatives of the care facility declined to comment on the incidents. (gript.ie)
The reporting
newest first- 20 Oct2023Minister seeks urgent meeting after boy sexually assaulted twice in state care - Gript
Reports the two alleged sexual assaults on the same boy, the facility's delayed reporting to his parents and to gardaí, and Minister Rabbitte's reaction. No arrest or charge is reported.
victim, 12, malesuspect - 19 Oct2023Urgent meeting sought after boy assaulted in centre
Adds details of the assaults, the minister's response, and delays in notifying the boy's mother, Tusla and gardaí. No arrest or charge is reported.
victim, Fionn, 12, male, irish (judged from name)Fionnsuspect - 18 Oct2023Mother seeks answers over assault of son in care centre
First report of the case. Describes two assaults by the same resident, the centre's delayed notifications to the mother, Tusla and gardaí, and the mother's demand for answers. Gardaí are conducting a sexual abuse investigation.
victim, Fionn, 12, male, irish (judged from name)Fionnsuspect, male