Details on compensation scheme for North Kerry CAMHS
The North Kerry Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS) came under scrutiny following a 2022 random audit of 50 clinical files.
The audit identified potential concerns in the care of 16 children.
The concerns followed the publication of the Maskey Report into South Kerry CAMHS, and the HSE subsequently commissioned a wider Lookback Review into the care provided in North Kerry.
The HSE commissioned a review of all 374 clinical files belonging to children and young people who were active with North Kerry CAMHS on 21 November 2022.
The review was conducted by Dr Colette Halpin, a consultant child and adolescent psychiatrist.
The Halpin Report was published on 18 February 2026.
Key findings of the Halpin Report
- 79% of patients attending the generic service were prescribed psychotropic medication, compared with a national rate of 39%.
- 60% were prescribed sleep medication, compared with a national average of 24%.
- 94% of children with an intellectual disability were prescribed psychotropic medication, with high levels of antipsychotic prescribing also identified.
- Polypharmacy, meaning the prescription of two or more psychotropic medications at the same time, was identified as a concerning feature.
- Some children were prescribed as many as seven psychotropic medications at the same time.
- One child was prescribed Risperidone for 93 months, despite guidelines recommending its use for substantially shorter periods in the circumstances examined.
- Sodium Valproate was prescribed in 42% of cases involving children with an intellectual disability to manage challenging behaviour and sleep difficulties, despite not being licensed for those purposes.
- Inadequate physical health assessment and monitoring, particularly cardiovascular monitoring, was identified as the most common source of potential harm.
- No evidence was found of standard operating procedures being followed.
- Access to individual and family psychological therapies was limited, with long waiting times reported.
Of the 374 files reviewed, a potential risk of harm was identified in 209 cases.
These included:
- 195 cases involving potential moderate harm
- 12 cases involving potential minor harm
- 2 cases involving potential major harm
HSE South West apologised to the young people and families affected by the findings.
For a more detailed breakdown of the report and the further file review, read our North Kerry CAMHS audit and Lookback Review.
Compensation Scheme for North Kerry CAMHS
The compensation scheme for North Kerry CAMHS is an extension of the non-adversarial scheme established following the Maskey Report into South Kerry CAMHS.
The South Kerry scheme has had a high level of engagement. As of mid-2025, more than 230 applications had been received and 89% of those cases that had proceeded to mediation had concluded in a settlement.
The Government has now extended the scheme to North Kerry following publication of the Halpin Report.
Key features of the scheme
- It is a non-adversarial compensation process.
- It provides an alternative to pursuing compensation through contested High Court proceedings.
- The scheme is administered by the State Claims Agency on behalf of the HSE.
- Applications have been accepted since 26 March 2026.
- Affected young people are being contacted and invited to apply.
- Applications can be made through a solicitor by writing to the HSE.
- The scheme has been extended to young people subsequently identified as having suffered harm through the further North Kerry CAMHS file review.
The purpose of the scheme is to provide affected young people and families with a less adversarial route to resolving claims arising from deficits in care identified through the North Kerry review.
Who is eligible?
The following groups may fall within the compensation scheme for North Kerry CAMHS:
- The 209 young people identified through the original Halpin Lookback Review as having been exposed to a potential risk of harm.
- Young people subsequently identified as having suffered harm through the further clinical file review being carried out by HSE South West.
Minister Butler confirmed when announcing the extension that young people identified as having suffered harm through the further review would also be able to access the compensation scheme.
The original 374-file review concerned young people who were active North Kerry CAMHS patients on 21 November 2022.
This should not be confused with the separate Phase 2 review, which covers people treated and discharged between 29 June 2014 and 18 November 2022.
What if I received an apology from the HSE?
Receiving an apology does not automatically mean you are currently eligible for the compensation scheme.
Some individuals who received an apology remain outside the scheme at present. Coleman Legal LLP understands that those who received an apology for deficits in their care may ultimately become eligible.
If you have received an apology, or have concerns about your or your child’s care, contact our team and we can advise you on your options.
Step 2: Apply to enter the scheme
Young people and their families can apply through their solicitor by writing to the HSE.
Your solicitor can obtain the relevant records, review the findings and guide you through the process.
The Kerry CAMHS Compensation Scheme office can be contacted at:
If you do not have a solicitor, you can contact Coleman Legal LLP at [email protected].
How to make a claim
If you or your child was treated by North Kerry CAMHS and you believe you may be eligible under the compensation scheme, the following steps outline the process.
Step 1: Speak with a solicitor
A solicitor experienced in medical negligence and CAMHS-related claims can review the correspondence and findings relating to your child’s care and advise on the compensation process.
Coleman Legal LLP currently represents a significant number of families affected by North Kerry CAMHS.
Step 2: Apply to enter the scheme
The Department of Health has confirmed that young people and their families can apply to the scheme through their solicitor by writing to the HSE and indicating that they wish to enter the scheme.
Your solicitor can obtain the relevant medical records, review the findings relating to the care provided and explain the next stages of the process.
Families identified through the original review are being provided with information about the compensation scheme and how to apply.
The Kerry CAMHS Compensation Scheme office can also be contacted at:
The HSE currently states that the information line operates Monday to Saturday.
The current public HSE information does not specify a final application deadline. Families should nevertheless consider obtaining advice as early as possible rather than delaying an application.
The further file review
Alongside the compensation scheme, HSE South West has commissioned a further clinically led file review extending beyond the original 374 cases examined by Dr Halpin.
The HSE has confirmed that Phase 2 covers people who were treated and discharged from North Kerry CAMHS between 29 June 2014 and 18 November 2022, covering the period during which the HSE had governance of CAMHS Area B.
This is different from the original review, which examined young people whose cases were active on 21 November 2022.
Key features of the further review
The HSE has said Phase 2 will include:
- Children and young people with a mental health disorder and intellectual disability.
- Children and young people prescribed neuroleptic or antipsychotic medication.
- Children and young people prescribed stimulant or non-stimulant ADHD medication.
- Children and young people receiving high-dose psychotropic medication.
- Children and young people where there is evidence of polypharmacy prescribing.
A Serious Incident Management Team, which includes patient representation, is overseeing the further review.
Families whose files are being reviewed will be contacted by HSE South West.
Importantly, the HSE has also confirmed that any person who was treated and discharged by North Kerry CAMHS between 29 June 2014 and 18 November 2022 and has concerns about their care can request that their healthcare record be reviewed.
A review can be requested through the Kerry CAMHS Information Line.
Any young person subsequently identified as having suffered harm through this process may also become eligible to apply to the compensation scheme.
Coleman Legal LLP has engaged with the HSE on behalf of clients whose files were not included in the original 374-file review and who have requested that their care be examined.
For continuing updates on this process, see our North Kerry CAMHS audit and Lookback Review.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the compensation scheme for North Kerry CAMHS?
The compensation scheme for North Kerry CAMHS is a non-adversarial State compensation scheme approved by the Minister of State for Mental Health on 26 March 2026.
It is administered by the State Claims Agency on behalf of the HSE and was introduced following the findings of the North Kerry CAMHS Lookback Review.
Who is eligible to apply?
The 209 young people identified in the original Halpin Review as having been exposed to a potential risk of harm have been given access to the scheme.
The scheme has also been extended to young people subsequently identified as having suffered harm through the further file review being carried out by HSE South West.
Individual eligibility will depend on the findings relating to the person’s care.
Do I have to go to court to make a claim?
No. The scheme has been established as a non-adversarial compensation process.
It provides eligible families with a route to seek compensation without having to begin with contested High Court proceedings.
How much compensation could I receive?
There is no single compensation figure that applies to every case.
Any compensation will depend on the individual circumstances, including the nature of the deficits identified in the person’s care and the harm or loss arising from them.
It is therefore not possible to accurately value an individual case without reviewing the relevant records and evidence.
Who pays my legal costs?
The North Kerry scheme is an extension of the existing Kerry CAMHS compensation process.
The costs arrangements applicable to an individual application should be confirmed from the current scheme documentation. We will explain any legal costs or outlays that may apply before an application is progressed.
I received an apology from the HSE. Am I automatically eligible for compensation?
Not necessarily.
An apology from the HSE should not, by itself, be assumed to confirm eligibility for the compensation scheme.
The findings made in relation to the individual’s care and the HSE or State Claims Agency correspondence should be reviewed to establish the person’s position.
Keith Rolls has raised this issue publicly and has called for clarity for families who have received apologies but remain uncertain about eligibility.
Is there a deadline for making a claim?
The current HSE public information does not specify a final application deadline for the North Kerry CAMHS compensation scheme.
Families should nevertheless seek advice as early as possible, particularly where medical records, review findings or separate legal time limits may need to be considered.
What is the helpline number for North Kerry CAMHS families?
For compensation scheme queries, the HSE also lists:
What if my child was not included in the original 374-file review?
The HSE is carrying out a further review of people who were treated and discharged by North Kerry CAMHS between 29 June 2014 and 18 November 2022.
A person within that period who has concerns about their care can ask the HSE to review their CAMHS healthcare record, even if their file is not currently being prioritised.
If harm is subsequently identified through that review, the person may also become eligible for the compensation scheme.
What if my child was treated before June 2014 or after November 2022?
The current Phase 2 review covers the period from 29 June 2014 to 18 November 2022, which the HSE identifies as the period during which it had governance of CAMHS Area B for the purposes of this phase.
If you or your child received care outside this period and have concerns about that treatment, the circumstances should be considered separately to determine what options may be available.
How can Coleman Legal LLP help my family?
Keith Rolls and the Coleman Legal LLP team have been representing families affected by CAMHS care in Kerry for a number of years.
Keith currently acts for a significant number of families affected by the North Kerry CAMHS review and has spoken publicly about the concerns identified in the Halpin Report and the need for clarity for affected families.
Our team can review the findings and correspondence relating to your child’s care, advise whether the compensation scheme may apply, assist with an application and engage with the HSE where a file was not included in the original review.
If you or your child received care from North Kerry CAMHS and you are unsure whether your file has been reviewed or whether the compensation scheme may apply, you can contact our team to discuss your circumstances.
All enquiries are treated as private and confidential.
