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Southwest

Teenager with intellectual disabilities left in foster home despite allegations of sexual abuse

The young person had been living in the home in the Cork/Kerry area since 2003.

A YOUNG PERSON with intellectual disabilities was left in a foster home despite allegations of sexual abuse being made against a foster carer in the residence.

RTÉ’s This Week programme has learned that Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, removed two foster children from the home but the 19-year-old remained there for some time.

The teenager, identified by the HSE as ‘Client B’, had been living in the foster home in the Cork/Kerry area since 2003.

This Week reported that allegations of sexual abuse were made against the carer by a relative. The 19-year-old was finally removed from the home in February of this year after concerns were raised with the HSE.

In a statement, a HSE spokesman told This Week: “No allegation of abuse has been made relating to ‘Client B’.”

Tusla declined to say when the concerns were initially raised or how long the young person stayed at the home after the removal of the two other foster children.

The HSE told This Week the concerns were raised with Tusla before 2016. The organisation said the teenager was moved out of the foster home within one week of it being informed of the abuse concerns.

The HSE added that no investigation is currently being conducted into the situation.

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Read: Foster care case: ‘These are allegations of rape using implements and horrific sexual abuse’

Read: Catholic priest visited girl’s family home after she made abuse allegation