Pat Murphy, a 34-year-old father, died after a ruptured artery went undiagnosed at Cork University Hospital. Despite suffering severe chest pains, he faced a nine-hour wait for a CT scan, delayed further by a malfunctioning machine. His family claims this delay contributed to his tragic death.
Meta, previously known as Facebook, is facing accusations in the Irish High Court for allegedly exerting complete control over third-party firms managing its content moderation. Former employees of these firms claim they suffered psychological harm from the violent material they were required to view as moderators. The case brings up complex jurisdictional issues, with Meta’s global operations under scrutiny.
The CAMHS in North Kerry review, expected to finish by early 2024, has now been delayed until 2025, causing frustration among families. Only 300 cases are being examined, leaving many without answers as delays mount. Families and advocates are calling for an expanded review and quicker resolution to the alleged harm caused by the service.
Defective Blocks newsletter and latest updates.
Mother and Baby Homes redress newsletter and latest updates.
CAMHS newsletter and latest updates.
The Mother and Baby Homes Redress Scheme opened for applications on Wednesday, the 20th of March, 2024. This is very much welcomed news after a very long wait by survivors.
The Mother and Baby Institutions Payment Scheme opened on the 20th of March 2024. The Act passed all stages of the legislative process and was signed into law by President Michael D Higgins in July 2023.
The compensation amounts published in the scheme set out a starting figure for a redress of €5,000.
This amount* would apply to all mothers who were residents for up to 89 days in the institution, with the amount increasing to €12,500 for those with at least 180 days residency and so on. Your entitlement increases if a commercial work payment were to be applied**
All of our clients receive a monthly newsletter which keep you up to date on the events. We will apprise all of our clients of any developments as they arise. It should be noted that while the Scheme’s announcement is welcome news for many, there are still large sections of the community who are excluded. These are largely former child residents of the institution who spent less than 180 days of residency and those from a small number of institutions that have been excluded from eligibility for redress.
This is despite widespread calls for the inclusion of those with less than 180 days residency and those from the listed below*
*see link below setting out the amounts on offer in the scheme
**This is on a case-by-case basis depending on the nature of work undertaken, the duration of the residency and the institution concerned. Contact us now to see if you are eligible for the additional minimum of €1,500 (and up to €60,000 depending on the duration of your stay at the institution).
The new payments for the Mother and Baby Homes Redress Scheme are as follows*
The Act provides that any mother who spent time in a mother and baby institution in Ireland for any duration of time will be eligible for redress/compensation.
Redress will arise if the person resided in one of the 14 mother and baby homes or any of the States County homes. Unfortunately, at this time, redress is not being extended beyond that to other institutions.
The compensation levels go up depending on residency. See attached for detailed figures. The compensation starts at €5,000 and goes up after 90 days to €10,000. There are additional payments if the person engaged in what is termed as ‘commercial work.’
Details on what is classified as ‘commercial work’ are not explicitly detailed in the Act. Where applicable an applicant can apply for the payment generally if they engaged in work (such as child minding outside of the home) or if they engaged in work inside the home of a commercial nature, i.e., this might include making items that are to be sold by the religious order to third parties. The redress will also apply to young mothers who were under 18 during their stay. There is also a provision for a medical card, and the application for redress can be made at the same time.
The Mother and Baby Homes Redress scheme has dealt a serious blow to former child residents of these institutions. The Mother and Baby Institutional Payment Scheme Act stipulates that all that have spent time in a relevant institution have been resident for 180 days or more to be eligible. The rates will be the same for the mothers once the residency requirement is satisfied.
It should be noted that Coleman Legal LLP continue to advance legal cases before the Courts in relation to this arbitrary restriction. Unfortunately, redress at this time is not being extended beyond that to other institutions not included in the list. See the link for a list of the institutions. List of institutions eligible for the scheme.
Despite the Oireachtas joint committee recommending that the list of institutions be expanded to include;
Even if you are not likely to be included in the scheme because of residency requirements or because your institution isn’t on the list, Coleman Legal LLP would still like to hear from you.
We may be able to assist by reviewing your particular circumstances and providing some input on what options may be available to you. Similar to the redress for mothers, there is a provision for a medical card, and the application for redress can be made simultaneously.
One positive to be taken from the Act for former child residents is that anyone who was in St Patrick’s (Navan Road/Pelletstown) is eligible to apply to the scheme, provided they didn’t get redress in the Residential Redress Scheme of 2002. If you would like to, please fill out our contact form below, and someone from the team will contact you.
If you are a former resident of a mother and baby home, you are entitled to free counselling under the National Counselling Service, operated under the auspices of the HSE. Click here to see the geographical locations of your nearest counselling service. Counselling can also be arranged over the phone.
More information is available at this link Or those who are residents of the UK, below are several support organisations that may be able to help you;
Irish Community Services
Leeds Irish Health and Homes
ICAP (Immigrant Counselling and Psychotherapy)
The London Irish Centre
For anyone resident in the US, please see the link below to local Irish immigration centres;
Find Your Local Irish Center | Coalition of Irish Immigration Centers (ciic-usa.org)
Every applicant to the mother and baby homes payment scheme is entitled to seek assistance from their chosen solicitor with respect to the redress scheme. All applicants may seek the advice of a solicitor as part of the finalisation of an application/acceptance of an award. This comes in the form of legal advice for executing a valid legal waiver and assistance with a decision to accept or reject an award. In addition, this advice will include information about your right to bring a legal case in connection with your time in the institution and how those rights will be affected if you decide to accept the offer of redress.
Those accepting payments under the Scheme will be asked to sign a legal waiver stating that they will not then pursue a claim against the State through the courts. It is important that all applicants to the Scheme obtain legal advice regarding the implications of the legal waiver.
Coleman Legal LLP has worked with many clients over the past six years who have been residents in Mother and Baby Homes and County Homes, both as mothers and as children.
We are currently liaising with our clients regarding the scheme and the unfortunate arbitrary restrictions that exist within it. Those who have not filled out the paperwork will be asked to do so. These forms can be emailed or posted out to you for convenience. We will prepare your application to the Scheme on your behalf and submit it to the State body administering it.
It is also important to note that if you wish to take up a copy of any records from your time in the institution you can do so by contacting Tusla at this link
Contacted us at:
Solicitors
84 Talbot Street, Dublin 1
D01 YX60
DX 112002
Free Phone: 1800-844-104
Fax: (01) 5312727
Email: [email protected]
Web: www.colemanlegalpartners.ie
Online Enquiry Form: Apply
Head of Client Services
P: 1800-844-104
E: [email protected]
”At Coleman Legal, excellence in customer care is paramount. We aim to meet both prospective and existing client’s needs in a professional, engaging, and friendly manner with a clear objective to give quality legal advice and reach a positive outcome.”
