In Ireland a foster child was allowed to remain with a family for 20 years despite the fact there was evidence her foster father may have been physically and sexually abusing her. Caregivers reported mysterious bruises and a black eye, but while reports were made, child protection agencies failed to intervene to protect the child. Reports that detailed Grace’s abuse while in foster care that could have been key to her case were withheld from the public. We are Kathleen Raskin and Robert Raskin of Las Vegas, Nevada, and we believe the public has a right to information that can negatively impact the health and safety of children.

Grace

An intellectually disabled girl named Grace, who today is an adult, was failed by the system when child protection caseworkers in Ireland did not protect her when there was evidence she was being abused by her foster father. Instead of intervening on her behalf to protect the child as their job requires, workers allowed her to remain in the home despite the allegations against her foster father for another 13 years, during which time she was subjected to horrific abuse. There were at least four opportunities where the girl could have been remained from the home, so why was nothing done?

Foster Care Abuse in Ireland

Unfortunately, in Ireland and in many other countries around the world, Grace’s story is not unique. According to the two previously unpublished reports that were brought to light by the whistleblower, a total of 47 different foster children were placed in one foster home in Waterford where there had been multiple reports of potential abuse. In Ireland alone there were no fewer than 33 allegations of abuse against children in foster care over a single 15-month period, along with another 24 alleged incidents that were “found to have substance” in a single quarter.

Why Weren’t the Reports Made Public?

Reports that would have figured prominently in Grace’s case were not released to the public. While the HSE had considered releasing reports about foster care abuse to the public, they eventually decided against it due to the legalities involved in the investigation. It is an outrage that these reports and others like them were kept from the public due to bureaucracy while children like Grace continued to be abused. It’s time to do something about it, so please join us, Kathleen Raskin and Robert Raskin, in our fight against corruption in child protection agencies and the courts.