New allegations of mistreatment at Co Tipperary disability centre

Ten staff members at a centre for people with intellectual disabilities in Co Tipperary have been placed on leave followed allegations of mistreatment.

It follows complaints by members of the public and issues raised as part of an investigation by the State watchdog for care standards into the Daughters of Charity residential centre in Roscrea.

In a statement, the Health Service Executive – which funds the facility – confirmed staff had been placed "off duty" as a protective measure pending an investigation of the allegations.

Gardaí have also been notified of the allegations.

The HSE said it was conducting a detailed examination of the claims and has established a safeguarding team to help support the Daughters of Charity to deal with concerns.

The investigation comes to light just a week after the HSE announced a separate investigation into care standards at Aras Atttracta, a disability centre in Co Mayo.

It was prompted by shocking footage broadcast by RTÉ last week which showed residents being manhandled and shouted at repeatedly by a number of staff.

These latest allegations relate to care practices at two residential units in Roscrea. The Daughters of Charity provides care for more than 130 people with disabilities across a range of houses and group homes in the wider community.

Hiqa has also been conducting a follow-up inspection in recent times on foot of a number of complaints.

Responding to reports of the investigation, Minister of State with responsibility for disability Kathleen Lynch said that while the details of the allegations were worrying, she was encouraged that poor standards of care were being investigated.

She said she anticipated that more concerns of this nature will emerge following the revelations on RTÉ last week.

"While it is worrying for all of us that this has happened, it is also encouraging that the service being carried out by HIQA is uncovering concerns of poor and unacceptable standards of care," she said.

“It is only through exposing these practices that we can start to effect improvements in care for the most vulnerable people in our society,” she said.

The HSE, meanwhile, has urged staff and clients to make complaints where they are aware of abuse or bad practices towards any vulnerable people.

The executive says it will respond to all such complaints in an appropriate and expeditious manner.

Earlier this week it announced that disability campaigner Leigh Gath had been appointed as a "confidential recipient" and would handle any complaints where a whistleblower has concerns about being identified.

It said other complaints can be made directly to the HSE through its “your service your say” e-mail address, yoursay@hse.ie

This move followed calls by organisations representing people with intellectual disabilities who called on the Government to appoint a confidential recipient to deal with abuse allegations in residential disability centres.

Groups such as Inclusion Ireland and the Special Needs Parents Association say they received extensive allegations of neglect and abuse in a number of residential centres in recent days.

The HSE last week apologised to residents at Aras Attracta and their families over their mistreatment at the hands of staff.

All the recommendations from a recent Health Information and Quality Authority report into Áras Attracta in Swinford had been implemented, it said.