A teenage girl in the care of the North Eastern Health Board has alleged she was sexually taken advantage of by a male employee of the board, the High Court was told yesterday. The girl, said to have come from a troubled and traumatic background, has had, according to the judge, more life experiences than most adults.
Mr Justice Peter Kelly said if what the girl was alleging was true, and there appeared to be some substance to what she was saying, what occurred was an appalling betrayal of trust which he wanted to ensure could never happen again. The court was told the health board had taken the allegation seriously and was conducting an investigation.
Adjourning the case to June 14th to review the matter, the judge said he would like to be told then the outcome of the board's inquiry and what matters needed to be addressed so no other vulnerable girl in similar circumstances could be preyed upon by an adult.