Individual Cases
Danny Talbot (19)
Danny Talbot died in summer 2009 of a suspected drug overdose. He spent most of his life in the care system and was in receipt of aftercare from the Health Service Executive when he died. While he was placed in foster care after the death of his father at the age of nine, his behaviour began to deteriorate. He ended up in numerous emergency care placements, including out-of-hours hostels for homeless young people.
David Foley (17)
David Foley died of a drug overdose in 2005, three years after being admitted into the care system. He had voluntarily sought care at the age of 14 and ended up being admitted into a series of emergency hostels for homeless teens in Dublin’s city centre. Professionals familiar with his case say he should have received more suitable forms of care, such as family support, which could have allowed him to live at home or in his community.
Tracey Fay (18)
The Dublin girl died of a drug overdose in January 2002. She had suffered serious physical and emotional abuse at the hands of her mother and her mother’s partner. A subsequent report was highly critical of the health authorities for their “chaotic” provision of care services and highlighted the many “missed opportunities” when the State should have intervened during her life.
Kim O’Donovan (15)
Kim O’Donovan was found dead from a suspected overdose in August 2000 in a city centre BB. She had been in care under a High Court order but had absconded from Newtown House, the first secure unit of its kind in the Republic. A subsequent report was highly critical of the quality of care provided to the children in Newtown House. It was one of the factors that led to its closure.
Michelle Bray (14)
From Dungarvan, Co Waterford, Michelle Bray died in January 2007 after inhaling some of the contents of a deodorant can. The HSE had been warned more than a year earlier that the girl’s life was in danger unless she was placed in residential care.
William Colquhoun (16)
William Colquhoun was admitted into the HSE’s system of emergency care at age 16 after running away from home in Co Kildare. Within two years, and after a succession of care placements and social workers, he died of a drug overdose. Care workers familiar with his case say there were missed opportunities to provide him with a care plan and that more supportive forms of care were never made available.