The HSE has apologised to the survivors of alleged sexual abuse at a Donegal care home and admitted that what happened “fell far short” of the high standards it aims for.

A report into the facility found that at least 18 residents were subjected to sexual abuse at the hands of another resident - given the pseudonym Brandon - over a period of around 13 years.

The Irish Times reports that the unpublished document notes that staff had full knowledge of the “sustained sexual abuse” and that a common strategy used by management was to move the alleged abuser from ward to ward.

Many of the victims were non-verbal and, in some cases, their families were not informed until a decade later.

The Brandon Report has been sent to Gardaí who in turn have sent a file to the Director of Public Prosecutions.

A HSE spokesperson said: “Every day the Health Service and its staff seek to provide safe, high-quality health and social care with compassion to many thousands of people in communities around the country, and the public trust us to do this.

“What happened in this case fell far short of those standards and we apologise sincerely for that.”

The HSE said it received the Brandon Report in August 2020 by which time the alleged abuser was no longer resident in the home.

It said it immediately sought assurances as to the safety of the residents that were still there.

“The residents of the service and their families remain our priority,” said the spokesperson.

“All those affected are, and have been, in receipt of a range of multidisciplinary supports. These supports continue to be provided locally, with oversight by senior HSE management at national level.”

On Newstalk Breakfast this morning, the HSE Chief Operating Officer (COO) Anne O’Connor said Gardaí had asked the HSE not to publish the report until their investigation is complete.

She said the HSE originally becase aware of the case through a whistleblower in 2016.

“The HSE did commission a look-back review in 2016 to examine this case,” she said.

“That concluded that yes, there were concerns and suggested it was one person with a profound disability who assaulted other residents in the facility.

“That review completed in 2017 and at that time, we informed An Garda Síochána”

Review

She said an external review panel produced a report on the adequacy of the HSE response in 2020 and made several recommendations.

“We have been working on the implementation of that report since then,” she said.

Ms O’Connor said the HSE has provided extensive supports to the affected residents.

Investigation

She said Gardaí have asked the HSE not to publish the report.

“They have asked us to not proceed with the publication pending the conclusion … they are working with the DPP and they have asked us not to proceed with anything at this point in time,” she said.

Disabilities Minister Anne Rabbitte is meeting with some of the families today.

You can listen back to Ms O'Connor here:

If you are affected by any of the issues discussed in this article, you can contact the Rape Crisis Network 24 Hour Helpline on 1800 778888.