Shocking new allegations have emerged regarding serious misconduct at a childcare centre in south Dublin, including instances of children being roughly handled and verbally abused. The allegations suggest that children were forcibly pushed on to beds, with one instance of a child being struck with a plastic bowl whilst a team leader found the situation amusing.
These allegations were brought to light in a letter from Tusla, a regulatory body, to the chairman of the childcare centre. The letter also asserts that despite witnessing instances of verbal abuse towards toddlers, the manager of the centre failed to intervene.
The childcare establishment, which carries charitable status, is currently under dual investigations by both the Garda and Tusla. Up to four members of staff have been suspended amidst claims of physical, verbal, and emotional abuse inflicted on up to six children, aged between two to three years.
Those suspended include two employees identified as allegedly abusive, as well as two staff members who were reportedly slow in reporting the abuse to management and Tusla.
Despite the investigations by Gardaí and Tusla, the childcare centre, which caters to babies, toddlers and pre-school children, remains operational.
The accusations first came to light in March when concerns about two workers were raised by a colleague. The allegations included acts of slapping children, hitting their legs, rough force-feeding, calling them derogatory names, and aggressive behaviour such as forcibly wiping their noses causing them to fall and injure themselves. It’s also reported that the workers used disparaging language about parents in front of their children and displayed a general lack of warmth towards the young ones. When their concerns were not addressed, the staff members turned to Tusla, anonymously reporting the misconduct.
In a correspondence received on 28th March 2024, the creche’s chairman was informed by Tusla’s early years registration office about several worrisome reports received on March 25th. The issues highlighted included: derogatory name-calling of children by staff, specifically in the baby room and the wobble room, with the latter being the prime location of such distressing instances. No action to stop this behaviour was taken by the in-charge manager or team leader, despite their presence.
Shocking incidents like a youngster being mockingly labelled ‘fatty’, a staff member using a plastic bowl to hit a child on the head in the wobbler room – an action that was met with laughter and jokes by the team leader who witnessed it – were detailed. Other alarming situations include children in the wobbler room being manhandled, picked up by their arms, and tossed onto beds.
There were also accounts of a youngster who was visibly upset due to being forcibly pulled by a staff member for changing clothes in the said room. Moreover, it was also reported that staff members used inappropriate language and discussed adult subjects around children, demonstrated poor behaviour by discussing a child’s parents’ drug addiction in their presence and even verbally predicted a similar path for that child.
Tusla has reviewed these concerns, the letter mentions, advising the registered service provider to appropriately respond to them. Unfortunately, parents of the allegedly ill-treated toddlers learnt about these accusations only a month after this letter was sent, meanwhile the accused staff continued working with toddlers and babies for several weeks.
One mum, who requested anonymity, shared that the incident left her ‘devastated’. She narrated her ongoing anguish since the revelation; blame she imposed on herself for not being able to discern the situation and the painful guilt of entrusting her child to such individuals. The offer of any form of support or requested play therapy for her child from Tusla is still awaited.
The mother is reportedly seeking legal counsel and shared that her child, now enrolled in a new childcare service, seems to be flourishing and happy. Efforts to seek a comment from Tusla and the childcare centre are ongoing.
Gardaí have confirmed an ongoing enquiry related to a south Dublin-based enterprise. Their investigation involves collaboration with other governmental bodies. Additional details are not available currently due to the enquiry’s delicate nature,” stated officials. The head of the creche, currently implicated in the investigation, was unable to provide any comments on the situation. Meanwhile, Tusla refrained from making any public statements about the case.