Relatives of elderly people who died at the Leas Cross nursing home in north Dublin have welcomed the announcement that an independent investigation is to take place into alleged abuses at the facility.
Minister for Health Mary Harney yesterday confirmed the establishment of a commission of investigation which will examine the management, operation and supervision of Leas Cross, which was closed after concerns were raised about the treatment of residents.
The investigation will be headed by Derry O'Donovan, SC, and will report to the minister within 12 months from when it starts work.
The establishment of the commission follows the report by geriatrician, Prof Des O'Neill, published late last year. Prof O'Neill was asked by the Health Service Executive to review 105 deaths between 2002 and 2005 at the home in Swords.
His overall findings were "consistent with a finding of institutional abuse".
Ms Harney said she was conscious of the gravity of the issues raised by previous reviews into the nursing home and the public concern following these reviews.
In a statement today, the Leas Cross Deaths Relatives' Action Group said it very much welcomed the announcement that a commission is to be established to investigate the tragic events.
"The group was consulted in advance by the Minister for Health and Children on the terms of reference of the inquiry and finds them satisfactory and wide ranging," the statement said.
"It is the intention of the group to fully co-operate with the investigation. We would also, at this time, call on all members of the public who have relevant information relating to Leas Cross to come forward and ensure the inquiry is as comprehensive as possible."
"It is our belief that this inquiry will be of real assistance to all those seeking to reform the health sector by bringing some measure of accountability to the decisions taken in relation to the Leas Cross nursing home.
"The primary objective of our group has been to see this inquiry established and thus help in some way prevent the recurrence of such terrible events in the future."
The relatives' group thanked the Minister for "her interest in our concerns and courtesy towards our group".
"We have also found the officials in the Department of Health and the current HSE executive team very helpful and professional in considering our complaints," the statement added.
Leas Cross was shut down in July 2005 following an undercover RTÉ investigation. Secret cameras showing the treatment of patients caused a public outcry, and the Dáil heard calls for strict regulation of the sector.