Marie-Claire Butler, the General Solicitor for Minors and Wards of Court, acts as Grace’s legal advisor and is also responsible for her legal, personal and financial affairs.
Ms Butler confirmed that “Grace is happy and is living a meaningful and fulfilled life. She is well looked after and there is regular oversight of her care in her home, including by the President of the High Court,” a statement from the Department of Children, Disability and Equality said.
Ms Butler met with minister Norma Foley today to ensure “the Minister was aware that she had made considered and extensive submissions on the draft report on behalf of Grace to the Commission of Investigation prior to publication of the final report”.
Ms Butler previously said extensive submissions made by her legal team to the Commission of Investigation into the case of Grace were not included in its final report.
The General Solicitor highlighted potential learnings for investigations in the future into issues involving people with disabilities.
“The General Solicitor confirmed that Grace’s legal representation at the Commission of Investigation was paid for by the relevant Government departments and not taken from her legal settlement,” the statement from Ms Foley’s department confirmed.
“The General Solicitor was clear that management of the submissions it made to the Commission remains a matter for the Commission itself”.
In an unprecedented intervention, Ms Butler issued a statement which she said was “in the public interest” and in the interest of Grace herself.
Ms Butler said that before the publication of the final report of the Farrelly Commission, “the legal team appointed by the general solicitor made considered and extensive submissions to the commission on behalf of Grace”.
“It appears that these submissions have not been included nor referred to in any way in the report,” she added.
The Farrelly Commission was set up in 2017 to examine the case of a woman, given the pseudonym Grace, who has profound intellectual disabilities and has been in state care all her life.
It came after allegations of sexual abuse were raised against her foster father relating to another person who had lived with the family, and the length of time it took to remove Grace from the home thereafter.
Two whistleblowers in the Grace case have also criticised the report, stating that it would deter others from speaking out
The commission published its report earlier this month. It found Grace had been neglected and there was a lack of oversight in her care, but said it was not satisfied the evidence established she had been subjected to physical, sexual or emotional abuse.
Politicians and child-protection experts expressed shock that the 2,000-page report, which took eight years and is expected to cost up to €20m, did not come to more concrete conclusions.
Two whistleblowers in the Grace case have also criticised the report, stating that it would deter others from speaking out and was a “complete waste of time”.
Ms Foley said she had asked the chairwoman of the investigation, Marjorie Farrelly SC, to write an executive summary but was told she was not in a position to do so.
Today’s News in 90 Seconds – April 30th
The statement issued by the Courts Service on behalf of Ms Butler said: “The general solicitor for minors and wards of court is the High Court-appointed Committee for Grace.
“As Committee, the general solicitor is responsible for the legal, personal and financial affairs of Grace, acting under the direction of the president of the High Court.
“The general solicitor cannot discuss or comment further on this or any other case due to the confidential nature of wardship.
“This statement on behalf of the general solicitor is being brought to the attention of the media as it is her belief that it is in the public interest to do so.”
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