TDs question scope of planned spina bifida and scoliosis inquiry

Social Democrats health spokesperson Padraig Rice warned that a planned public inquiry into state care for children with spina bifida and scoliosis may deliver little “truth or justice”, based on a briefing to TDs on Saturday.

Rice, along with Labour TD Marie Sherlock and Fine Gael TD Colm Burke, were shown a 136‑page scoping report prepared by Remy Farrell, appointed by Health Minister Jennifer Carroll‑MacNeill in March to consider the structure and terms of reference for an inquiry. The report is due for publication on Monday.

The move follows the death of nine‑year‑old Harvey Morrison Sherratt, who suffered from both conditions. Delays in his spinal surgery saw his curvature worsen from 75° to 130°, and after surgery in December 2024 he died seven months later, in July.

Rice argued that families have consistently called for a fully public inquiry covering a broader period than the narrow 2019‑2025 window proposed, noting that the crisis dates back to at least 2000 and extends to 2026. He called for a Dáil debate and for the minister to appear before TDs.

Sherlock welcomed the scoping exercise but cautioned that two of the four proposed inquiry models depend on the conclusions of other ongoing investigations, which are already delayed. One such review is the Nayagam Review into a CHI spinal surgeon’s work, begun in September 2023 and still incomplete.

Parents of affected children were given 24‑hour notice of the briefing on Farrell’s report, which will be presented to Cabinet next Tuesday.

Source: Irish Examiner. Photo: Burçak Çubukçu / Pexels.