Harney announces inquiry into Leas Cross

An investigation into the management, operation and supervision of Leas Cross nursing home has been announced by the Minister for Health, Mary Harney.

The investigation will be headed by Derry O'Donovan, SC, and will report to the minister within 12 months from when it starts work.

The establishment of the commission of investigation follows the report by geriatrician, Prof Des O'Neill, published late last year, who was asked by the HSE to review 105 deaths between 2002 and 2005 at the home in Swords, north Co Dublin.

His overall findings were "consistent with a finding of institutional abuse".

Ms Harney said she was conscious of the gravity of the issues raised by previous reviews into the nursing home and the public concern following these reviews.

She said the commission would examine the role and responses of relevant parties into the management, operation and supervision of the home.

"It will also examine complaints made by or on behalf of residents or former residents of the home and the transfer of residents from medical and residential care facilities to the home."

Age Action Ireland immediately welcomed the announcement last night, while describing it as "long overdue". Spokesman Eamon Timmins said the commission was necessary if public confidence in the State's ability to protect nursing home residents was to be restored.

"There are several outstanding questions surrounding Leas Cross and its relationship with the HSE. Until these are answered we cannot be sure that similar incidents will not occur in other nursing homes being inspected by the HSE," Mr Timmins said.

"Among the key questions which must be answered is why the HSE failed to act at an earlier stage and why it continued to transfer residents from other residential care facilities despite repeated warnings from relatives and medical staff."

The charity urged Mr O'Donovan to begin his work as soon as possible.

A spokeswoman for the department said no date had been set for the commission to begin its investigation.

Welcoming the announcement, Fine Gael spokesman Fergus O'Dowd TD stressed that it was "long overdue" given that conditions in the home had been exposed almost two years ago by RTÉ's Prime Time programme.

He also called for the terms of reference of the commission to be extended to cover all patients transferred from St Ita's in Portrane to long-term care.