An unprecedented High Court inquiry into the death in a Dublin city-centre B&B of a 15-year-old girl, almost a month after she escaped from health board care, has been delayed. The delay was on the application of the East Coast Area Health Board.
The inquiry, which was due to open on December 5th, will not begin until February 20th. But Mr Justice Kelly, saying he was not impressed by the health board's "bureaucratic undertaking" in relation to the inquiry, warned he would not be deflected from holding it.
The inquiry ordered by the judge relates to the circumstances surrounding the escape of Kim O'Donovan from health board care last July. She was found dead of a suspected overdose last August. It is understood criminal charges are to be preferred as a result of an investigation into her death.
