It is extremely concerning that the author of the Grace report failed to include any reference to legal submissions filed by Grace’s legal team in her final report, according to Social Democrats TD Liam Quaide.
Deputy Quaide, who is the party’s disability spokesperson, said:
“Grace’s whole life has been marked by failure by the State – most particularly her abandonment in a home where she was subject to serious neglect and known risk of abuse.
“There had already been fears that the report of the Farrelly Commission represented yet another failure. It spent 8 years and €13 million failing to find answers to very basic questions about Grace’s appalling treatment at the hands of the State.
“However, today’s unprecedented intervention by Grace’s legal representative – stating that extensive submissions made by Grace’s legal team are not reflected in the final report – significantly increase those fears.
“This extremely concerning revelation raises huge questions about the findings of the report; the process involved and the rationale for the State effectively silencing Grace’s voice yet again.
“It is now imperative that Senior Counsel Marjorie Farrelly, the author of the report, appears before the Oireachtas Committee for Disability Matters at the first available opportunity, along with Minister Norma Foley, to answer questions about this report.”
April 29th, 2025