‘We Would Hope That These Things Are Not Happening’ – Disability Minister Responds To Damning RTÉ Documentary

Minister for Disability, Older People and Equality Kathleen Lynch has said that the Government "can't be certain" that abuse is not being carried out in care homes across the country. A Prime Time Investigates special entitled Inside Bungalow Three aired on RTÉ One last night and showed shocking abuse of intellectually disabled residents at the Áras Áttracta care home in Swinford, Co. Mayo and has sparked a national outcry. The HSE has since suspended staff pending an enquiry and the agency said that it "wishes to apologise unreservedly to the residents concerned and to their families for any distress experienced at any time in relation to poor standards of care provided to them in Unit 3”. Speaking on Newstalk Breakfast this morning, Minister Lynch said that she could not confirm these issues were not occurring in other areas. "We would hope that these things are not happening. We can't be certain. I mean, our past in terms of abuse of all sorts in this country. I don't believe that there is anyone hand on heart could say at this time that it's not happening somewhere else and I'm definitely not prepared to do that." "I think it's very difficult to dismiss what we saw last night but there is an investigation going on and we need to be careful that we don't prejudice that investigation. As a result of that investigation, when it is completed, and I would hope that it will be completed as quickly as possible, that then whatever disciplinary action that is necessary will be taken. I can guarantee people of that."