An independent report into the death of a 60-year-old disabled man who died two weeks after being admitted to the controversial Leas Cross nursing home in north Co Dublin has been given to his family.
Peter McKenna, who had Down syndrome and Alzheimer's disease, died in October 2000 some 13 days after he was transferred from St Michael's House, a disability service-provider in north Dublin, to the Leas Cross private nursing home near Swords.
The Hynes report is believed to say that St Michael's House should bear a substantial share of responsiblility, a charge the facility rejects. But the report also says that, while in Leas Cross, Mr McKenna was alone in an upstairs bedroom with just one nurse on night duty.
The report was compiled by Martin Hynes, former head of the Irish Blood Transfusion Service, who also examined the appropriateness of the nursing home inspection process. Leas Cross is now closed.
In a statement issued by St Michael's House this evening it says the report is "flawed".
"St Michael's House acted at all times in the best interests of Mr McKenna, as it does and has done for all in its care for the past fifty years, and the proposal to transfer Mr McKenna was made in good faith," the statement said.
"St Michael's House acted with integrity and in a caring and professional manner regarding the care of Mr McKenna and his transfer to Leas Cross nursing home.
"The family has described the care provided to Mr McKenna by St Michael's House for 23 years as 'superb'."
The statement claims that Mr Hynes did not interview the staff involved in the care of Mr McKenna and he did not seek expert medical opinion in considering the course of Alzheimer's disease in people with Down Syndrome.
"Mr Hynes ignores the fact that Leas Cross nursing home in 2000, with 35 residents, was very different from the Leas Cross he visited in 2005, which had 110 beds," the statement continues.
"Mr Hynes failed to investigate the circumstances of a cancelled medical appointment with Beaumont Hospital or seek any information from Beaumont Hospital."
The statement concludes by saying the latest Hynes Report "does no service to the McKenna family or to St Michael's House".
Mr McKenna's brother said this evening that the report would "make sure that it doesn't happen to any other lad like Peter." Speaking on RTÉ news he said: "St Michael's House sent him off to Leas Cross. He lasted 13 days there and after 13 days we got back his dehydrated, blacked neglected body and we have not heard any explaination whatsoever from either St Michael's house or Leas Cross."
It is not clear when the report will be formally published.