A vulnerable young person who was referred to Extern for support services was sexually assaulted by a key worker assigned to them, it can be revealed.

However, while Extern fully complied with all reporting requirements in Northern Ireland, it did not inform Tusla – the Child and Family Agency in Ireland – despite operating in both jurisdictions and taking referrals from the Republic of Ireland (RoI).

Extern is a charity providing services for vulnerable children and young people in both Northern Ireland and the Republic.

Tulsa was established in 2014 and is described as: “The dedicated State agency responsible for improving wellbeing and outcomes for children. It represents the most comprehensive reform of child protection, early intervention and family support services ever undertaken in Ireland.”

In 2019, the now former Extern employee was based in Fermanagh when he committed a serious sexual offence against the victim.

The incident did not occur in the Extern facility; however, the offender “befriended” the victim, who had been referred by Social Services.

Cooperating fully

Extern appropriately notified authorities in Northern Ireland, cooperating fully with the PSNI and the Western Health and Social Care Trust, but it was more than a year before Tulsa was alerted.

In August, 2021, then Department of Health Permanent Secretary Richard Pengelly issued a briefing paper, having been made aware of pending press coverage on Extern’s failure to notify the Republic’s authorities.

He said: “Details of exactly who knew what and when became the subject of extensive correspondence between Extern and Tusla.

“We understand Extern believed their Chief Executive had advised Tusla, though he now acknowledges he did not.”

It emerged the convicted individual was also the keyworker for seven children normally resident in the Republic but placed by Tulsa with Extern in Northern Ireland.

No vetting of the offender was undertaken in the RoI as he only worked in Northern Ireland, albeit with service-users normally resident in the Republic.

“Tulsa should have been informed by Extern to enable it to determine whether action needed to be taken in relation to service users who were known to have been in contact with the individual concerned,” said Mr. Pengelly.

On August 13, 2021, a senior member of Extern management contacted the Executive Office in Stormont to advise publication of “serious safeguarding” matters was pending.

Reported

The author assured the sex incident was immediately reported by Extern in accordance with the Protocol for Joint Investigations by Social Workers and Police Officers of Alleged and Suspected cases of Child Abuse.

It was noted: “Extern has a zero tolerance [policy] for any form of abuse and once we became aware of the incident the young person was immediately believed and cared for.”

The correspondence pointed to service provision in both the Republic and Northern Ireland, conceding: “Non-notification was a serious mistake.”

Aftermath

In the aftermath, Extern commissioned a safeguarding expert to conduct an independent review, focusing on compliance and engagement with statutory agencies in both jurisdictions at the time of the incident.

However, a number of sources – including former service users – claim there have been ongoing concerns around practices within Extern.

Documents obtained under Freedom of Information requests include correspondence from the Minister for Justice, Naomi Long, dated last October, acknowledging the concerns of a complainant who reported issues within Extern in 2006, but felt “this was not properly investigated”.

The Minister encouraged this to be raised with the Police Ombudsman, but it remains unclear if this has been done.

Extern was asked to comment, but had not done so by the time of going to print.