OCO Child Death Review report

At present, there is no definitive figure on the number of children in Ireland who die from unnatural causes each year. Much of the limited data relies on families coming forward themselves. Between 2019 and 2023, 1,490 children and young people died, yet there is no central system to track these deaths or learn from them. The Ombudsman for Children’s Office has received many complaints about children who died in tragic, sometimes preventable, circumstances – including suicide, homicide, drug overdoses, accidents, and sudden deaths. Some of these children were in State care or known to services, yet in too many cases, we still don’t know how or why they died. Others weren’t known to services, but a duty of care still existed – and families deserve answers. The OCO is also concerned by the lack of review following cases of filicide or familicide, even when parents were known to State agencies. We are calling for the establishment of a statutory child death review system – one that is independent, transparent, and puts families at its heart.

In this video, Anne and Stephanie share their experiences as they continue to seek answers following the tragic deaths of their children.

 

You can read the Child Death Review in full below along with a summary.

• April 2025
• Type: Report
• Topic: Child Care, Children in care