A legal action by a young mother aimed at securing appropriate care for herself and her two children has ended at the High Court as a result of the mother's tragic death in a Dublin city squat.
The mother had been in voluntary health board care since she was 14 and died last year at the age of 18.
Mr Justice Ó Caoimh yesterday struck out the proceedings, taken by the mother on behalf of herself and her two children, who have been in care since their birth. The judge said there appeared to be no purpose in maintaining the action following the untimely death of the mother.
The children are in the care of the Northern Area Health Board. Their mother was found dead in a derelict Dublin city-centre basement last year. She had been placed in the voluntary care of the Eastern Health Board by her mother when she was 14 and later with the NAHB until her death. Her two children were born while she was in care.
In April 2001, the young woman, then aged 17 and pregnant with her second child, took legal proceedings against the NAHB and the State seeking orders that she be provided with care for herself and her children. The young woman was described at an earlier court hearing as having a very troubled history and having experienced physical abuse, neglect and abandonment.
On January 24th, 2002, four days after she was reported missing from an NAHB-owned residence, she was found dead in a squat near Dublin city centre. An inquest found the cause of death was inhalation of vomit due to heroin intoxication.
Mr Patrick MacEntee SC for the NAHB, said there was no point in continuing the proceedings.