The head of HSE South-West says he has "empathy” for the situation of a Cork mother who dropped her intellectually disabled child to an emergency department, but described her actions as “not sensible”. She said she had taken the desperate action on foot of her exasperation at being unable to access a disabled residence for her child. “I have tremendous empathy for parents, and this particular parent, just to say it is not a sensible thing for parents to drop their children off,” he said. Mr Clonan said the letter demonstrates that “we, in the view of the HSE, are primarily and exclusively responsible for the care and accommodation of adult, disabled children until we die”. I’m not sure it’s appropriate for me to do so.”On Wednesday, the HSE “sincerely apologised” for the letter that was sent to the mother.

Source: Irish Examiner February 19, 2026 21:23 UTC