Madam, - Your article, "Inquiry after boy (17) dies while in care" (October 20th), highlights the endemic problems within our child protection system.
It is crucial that the findings of an internal inquiry into the death of David Foley, who died while in the care of the State, are made public.
We need to know why a 14-year- old boy, "an innocent youngster", was inappropriately placed in an emergency hostel for several months while community care areas argued over who was responsible for him.
During this time, David became involved in drugs and crime, which ultimately led to his death three years later.
And it is not an isolated case. Another internal inquiry is looking at the death of Michelle Bray, a 14-year-old girl who died from inhaling solvents - warnings had been given to the HSE that the girl's life was in danger unless she was placed in residential care.
The establishment of a Child Death Review Committee is absolutely necessary. Any child death in State care demands an automatic review.
And Michelle and David deserve more than internal inquiries. We must learn lessons from their deaths.
We need a step-change in social services to prevent other needless deaths. - Yours, etc,
JILLIAN VAN TURNHOUT,
Chief Executive,
Children's Rights Alliance,
4 Upper Mount Street,
Dublin 2.