The Health Service Executive has appointed two chairmen to lead two separate investigations into allegations of serious mistreatment of residents at a Co Mayo home for adults with intellectual disabilities.
As reported by The Irish Times, the allegations include incidents of residents at the Áras Attracta residential facility in Swinford being force fed and slapped by staff.
Christy Lynch, chief executive of the KARE organisation for people with disabilities in Co Kildare, has been appointed to chair the investigation into the allegations, which are set to feature in an RTÉ documentary next week.
The HSE said Mr Lynch had a proven track record in the sector, adding that other independent members of the investigation team with backgrounds in law and investigations would be appointed shortly.
Meanwhile, Dr Kevin McCoy, a consultant and former member of the Commission to Inquire into Child Abuse, has been appointed by the HSE to lead a review of services at Áras Attracta generally. The remaining members of this review team are to be appointed shortly.
RTÉ said its investigations unit will broadcast a special documentary on the home on December 8th, after an undercover researcher worked in one unit for three weeks.
The researcher subsequently presented the HSE with a list of 19 issues, according to RTÉ. “The programme will demonstrate several very serious examples of substandard care in one particular unit, the most serious of which have been described as “abusive” by experts who have seen the footage.”
In a statement, RTÉ said its investigation uncovered evidence of a resident being force fed, repeated incidents of residents being shouted at, manhandling, pushing, shoving and slapping of residents. While there were incidents of good care, these were outweighed by failing that gave rise to serious concern.
Nine staff have been suspended in connection with the allegations.
