The North Kerry CAMHS “Lookback Review,” led by Dr. Colette Halpin and a team of independent consultants, has completed the review of around 300 patient files. This comprehensive North Kerry CAMHS Review was initiated following an audit that revealed concerns similar to those highlighted in the Maskey Report on South Kerry CAMHS, particularly regarding a junior doctor who worked in both areas.

Dr. Halpin was appointed to lead the North Kerry CAMHS Review in June 2023. In June 2025, Dr. Halpin had drafted her report; however, to date, the North Kerry CAMHS Review has not been published, nor is there any clarity on when it will be.

The North Kerry CAMHS Review’s purpose was to thoroughly assess the care provided to young people in North Kerry CAMHS. All individuals and families whose files were reviewed have been directly informed of the outcomes. In cases where deficits in care were identified, the HSE offered open disclosure meetings and apologised to the young people and their families.

Keith Rolls, Partner at Coleman Legal Partners LLP, speaking to The Kerryman newspaper (5th of July 2025), has raised serious concerns about the delay in the North Kerry CAMHS Review:

“The delay in publishing the report is complicated to fathom. It is worth noting that the Maskey review of 1,500 files took approximately six months to complete. However, Phase 1 of the North Kerry review was commissioned in January 2023, and no report has been published as of yet”.

The prolonged silence surrounding the release of the North Kerry CAMHS Review report has increased the sense of uncertainty among many of the affected families. Advocacy groups and parents of those directly impacted have repeatedly called for transparency and a full, system-wide review. They argue that limiting the North Kerry CAMHS Review to a subset of files risks underestimating the scale of the problem and erodes public confidence in the HSE’s oversight mechanisms.

North Kerry CAMHS review results and legal concerns

Coleman Legal LLP represent a large number of families whose files are involved in the current North Kerry CAMHS Review, as well as those who attended the services whose cases are not being reviewed. The results of the North Kerry CAMHS Review to date are alarming, with around 50% of those whose cases have been reviewed having received an apology. This is stark, given that approximately 15% of those considered in The Maskey Review in South Kerry received apologies.

Speaking to Barry Lenihan on RTÉ’s Drivetime on the 2nd of July 2025, Solicitor Keith Rolls called for the North Kerry CAMHS Review report to be published without further delay. He described the frustration and upset of those waiting for the report. He also emphasised the need to extend the North Kerry CAMHS Review to include all North Kerry files, covering a broader timeframe.

The absence of a firm timeline for publication, despite the evident completion of the North Kerry CAMHS Review report, has left families feeling sidelined, thereby compounding the distress already caused by previous care failings.

Contact us

If your child has been affected by issues relating to the North Kerry CAMHS Review and you are seeking legal advice regarding potential compensation claims, specialist legal support is available. For confidential advice about your rights and options, contact Coleman Legal LLP on freephone 1800-844-104 or email [email protected].