THE FAMILY of 19-year-old Danny Talbot who was in receipt of aftercare from the HSE when he died from a suspected drugs overdose has requested a meeting with the chairwoman of a review panel which will examine his case, an inquest heard yesterday.
Daniel “Danny” Talbot was living at the Caretakers Hostel, Back Lane, Dublin 8, part of the adult homeless services when he died in August 2009.
He had been in the care of the HSE from a young age and had been in a variety of placements but was with foster parents, David and Ann Flood, for the majority of the time.
His family has called for a full public inquiry into the circumstances of his death and into the handling of his case by the HSE.
Speaking at the conclusion of a “for mention” hearing of the inquest into her nephew’s death at Dublin City Coroner’s Court yesterday, Debbie Lamb said, “it was too little, too late for Danny”.
A review of Mr Talbot’s case is to be conducted by a review panel into serious incidents, including deaths of children in care, for the HSE.
The 19-year-old’s family are seeking a meeting with the chairwoman of the panel, Dr Helen Buckley, to establish how it will operate.
“It’s a system of interest to my client, but she has grave concerns about it,” counsel for Mr Talbot’s aunt and next of kin Sandra Lamb, Brian Barrington BL, told the inquest.
“While it does have some independent people on its panel, it does have some serving members of the HSE and serving members of the HSE would not meet [criteria] of independence,” said Mr Barrington.
“We don’t know how the next of kin will be involved . . . and we are not aware whether the HSE will get to redact the report,” he said.
Mr Barrington told coroner Dr Brian Farrell that Ms Lamb is conscious that she has a right under article 2 of the European Convention on Human Rights to an investigation which is independent, effective, prompt, public and involves the next of kin.
“Will it be examined in accordance with the European Convention on Human Rights? Will it tell the truth or will it be a whitewash? Will it be able to tell the truth?” asked Mr Barrington.
He told the coroner they had just written a substantial letter to Dr Buckley asking 21 questions to assess the extent to which the review panel meets the basic criteria of the European Convention on Human Rights.
“The family are seeking a meeting . . . they want to engage with the review panel,” said Mr Barrington.
He applied for an adjournment of the inquest to allow “dialogue to take place”. He told the coroner if the review meets the basic criteria of the convention (European Convention on--- Human Rights) he will not have to argue the inquest into the 19 year old’s death complies with the convention, but if it does not, “he may have to put that argument”.
The coroner adjourned the inquest for further mention to a date in late September. Mr and Ms Flood were assessed as foster parents and provided care from when Danny was about the age of nine for a period until the placement broke down. Once he reached 18 he was being provided for by the aftercare services.