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A care centre for people with disabilities in Ireland is in trouble. The care centre is called Áras Attracta. A video filmed in Áras Attracta A special team is going to investigate what happened The organization Inclusion Ireland Inclusion Ireland takes care of people with intellectual disabilities. Inclusion Ireland thinks more should be done |
Inclusion Ireland has called for robust and independent investigations following the release of shocking footage at the public-funded Áras Attracta, a care centre located in Mayo, Ireland.
The footage, broadcasted on Tuesday night, shows residents with severe intellectual disabilities being slapped, kicked, physically restrained, force-fed and shouted at.
After a whistleblower suggested that the quality of the care offered atÁras Attracta was poor, an undercover researcher posed as a work experience student and filmed the abuse.
Minister of Health Leo Varadakar confessed on RTE radio he was ashamed to be associated with the Áras Attracta facility. Commenting on the footage, he said: “It was a bit like watching a horror movie, except the problem was it wasn’t a horror movie, it was real.” Appalled by the findings of this undercover investigation, Director General of the Health Service Executive (HSE) Tony O’Brien has appointed a special team to investigate the incident thoroughly and monitor procedures.
However, CEO of Inclusion Ireland Paddy Connolly believes more radical measures should be taken in order to prevent this from happening again. He said: “In terms of the HSE and its own internal process, it is not appropriate for the Social Care Division alone to investigate its own service. The HSE Patient Safety Division, which has been involved in other high-profile inquiries and should be involved.”
