Paul Murphy presses for apology over Aoife Winterlich death
Paul Murphy raised the issue in the chamber on the 10th anniversary of the death of 14-year-old Aoife Winterlich, criticising Scouting Ireland’s handling of the incident and its refusal to apologise. He urged that pressure be applied to Scouting Ireland - which settled a court case after a long time and accepted liability despite an internal report that found no failure of duty of care - to apologise and to commission a new report.
The speech recalled that Aoife Winterlich, aged 14, died after an unplanned excursion to Hook Head during a storm. She was not properly supervised, fell into the water and drowned, and the statement noted the approaching 10th anniversary of her death.
Paul Murphy summarised that Scouting Ireland commissioned a report which found no failure of duty of care, yet later settled a court case and accepted liability with Aoife's mother. He highlighted correspondence in which Scouting Ireland expressed sorrow for the loss but refused to apologise for any failure of their actions and said they had not re-examined their report.
Murphy asked whether any pressure could be applied to Scouting Ireland to apologise to Aoife's mother and to commission a new report to establish lessons for the future. He emphasised concerns about organisational learning given the contrast between the internal report and the later settlement.
A minister responding in the chamber expressed sympathy for the family and recalled that Scouting Ireland may receive money from the Department of Children. The minister said they would bring the matter to the relevant minister's attention, ask them to consider the points raised and to liaise directly with Paul Murphy on the issue.
Incident and anniversary
The speech recalled that Aoife Winterlich, aged 14, died after an unplanned excursion to Hook Head during a storm. She was not properly supervised, fell into the water and drowned, and the statement noted the approaching 10th anniversary of her death.
Scouting Ireland report and settlement
Paul Murphy summarised that Scouting Ireland commissioned a report which found no failure of duty of care, yet later settled a court case and accepted liability with Aoife's mother. He highlighted correspondence in which Scouting Ireland expressed sorrow for the loss but refused to apologise for any failure of their actions and said they had not re-examined their report.
Calls for apology and a new report
Murphy asked whether any pressure could be applied to Scouting Ireland to apologise to Aoife's mother and to commission a new report to establish lessons for the future. He emphasised concerns about organisational learning given the contrast between the internal report and the later settlement.
Government response and funding oversight
A minister responding in the chamber expressed sympathy for the family and recalled that Scouting Ireland may receive money from the Department of Children. The minister said they would bring the matter to the relevant minister's attention, ask them to consider the points raised and to liaise directly with Paul Murphy on the issue.
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Transcript
This Saturday will mark the 10th anniversary of the death of Aoife Winterlich, who was a 14-year-old girl. She went on a trip with Scouting Ireland. They went on an unplanned excursion to Hook Head during a storm. They were not properly supervised and she fell in the water and she drowned. There was a report commissioned by Scouting Ireland which found that there was no failure of duty of care, but last year Scouting Ireland finally settled a court case after a long time with her mother who took the court case and accepted liability. But since then Scouting Ireland has refused to apologise for a failure of duty of care. I have correspondence with them where they say we are sorry for the loss of her daughter but they refuse to apologise for any failure of their actions and they also have not re-looked at their report. They had a report that found they had no failure and then accepted liability and it raises the question of whether there were any lessons learned into the future for the organisation. Scouting Ireland is in receipt of public funds and I am asking if any possible pressure can be applied to Scouting Ireland to do the right thing here, to apologise for their failure, to Aoife's mother and to commission a new report. Thanks very much Deputy Murphy for raising the issue. My heart goes out to the family of Aoife and we think of them particularly as the approach the 10th anniversary sounds like the most horrifically sad and tragic situation. From my recall, I think Scouting Ireland may receive money from the Department of Children. If that is not the right department I will bring this matter to the relevant minister's attention and ask them to consider your points and to liaise with you directly on the issue.