“Speaking today (Monday), Fine Gael Spokesperson on Children, Alan Shatter TD, said, ‘I very much regret to learn of the tragic death of Daniel McAnaspie. In the circumstances as disclosed I do not want to say anything that might impede any Garda investigation into his death. Tragically, he is another young man who has died while in the care of the State.”

“The response of the HSE to date is inadequate. There must be an independent investigation into the care, or lack of it, afforded to this tragic young teenager by the HSE. This should include not only a review of documentation and records held, but also interviews with social work personnel involved including those in managerial positions and with members of his family. Such an investigation should begin immediately and should not be postponed until the Garda investigation is concluded and any prosecution that might ensue.”

“It is no longer satisfactory that we are told by the HSE of its intention to ‘learn lessons’ arising out of what went wrong. There is widespread concern that the HSE has utterly failed to learn lessons from what went wrong in the case of Tracey Fay who died in 2002 and David Foley who died in 2005 and it has failed, and is failing, other children who have either died while in the care system or who have been left at risk without their circumstances being adequately investigated.”

Ends