The existence of a Tusla file in relation to this matter came to the attention of officials of my Department through media coverage. Subsequently, officials of my Department were made aware by the Health Service Executive on Friday evening 10 February 2017 that a HSE counselling service was involved in the referral referred to in the Tusla file. Both myself and the Minister of State for Mental Health and Older People were informed on Friday night by e-mail through our Private Secretaries. I was also contacted directly by the Director General of the HSE on Friday evening 10 February with the same information.
Prior to 10 February, the only contact between this family and my Department was when the individual's wife phoned my departmental office on the 17 January. This call was returned on the 18 January and once the official who took the call established that it concerned Tusla, he made arrangements for the office of the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs to directly contact the caller.
My Department was not made aware of the existence of this file by either Tusla or the Department of Children and Youth Affairs, or by another entity, prior to that date. This has been confirmed with the Department of Children and Youth Affairs.
The HSE issued a statement on Saturday 11 February clarifying its involvement and offering a full apology to Sergeant McCabe and indicating their intention to make arrangements to formally deliver that apology to the McCabe family. Sergeant McCabe communicated to my Special Advisor on that Saturday night that he and his family rejected the HSE’s apology and statement. The HSE subsequently issued a more formal apology to Sergeant McCabe and his family. My Department and the HSE will be fully co-operating with the Tribunal in all relevant matters.
