The HSE is all set to take action against child abuse in the country. The HSE has already ordered an investigation into the case in which eight children were tortured by their 47-year-old mother over seven years. The move came after the same day on which revised child protection guidelines were published by the Department of Children.

The child abuse included beating one of her sons with whips and sticks to make him look disabled so that she could claim extra social welfare benefits. One of her daughters told the investigators that their mother used to lock them all in a confined space with no food and a wet sheet to sleep on for the night. Soon after the case was reported, the children were taken into care in 2009. The HSE confessed that it was aware of the family in 2000.

The case has been handed over to the HSE’s national review group for serious incidents and child deaths. The group has an independent which includes professionals from a range of disciplines.

On Thursday, the accused woman pleaded guilty for the eight charges of assaulting, ill-treating and neglecting eight children from May 2002 to June 2009.