This overview report presents the main issues, key learning points and recommendations from reviews conducted by the National Review Panel relating to the very sad deaths of five young people who were known to the HSE/Tusla child protection services. It was decided not to publish these reports separately and in full in order to protect the welfare of family members and communities of the young people who died. None of the reviews that were undertaken found a direct link between the very said deaths of the young people and the actions or inactions of the services provided by Tusla. The reports highlighted a number of factors, some of which were common to more than one case, which will be elaborated on in this overview.

The five young people who were the subject of these reviews ranged in age from 14 to 21 years at the time of their deaths. Three of them had spent time in care. One young woman had been in foster care from the time she was one year old to the age of 18, and in aftercare for a further two years. Another young woman had been in care intermittently from the age of 14 and was in aftercare at the time of her death. A third young woman was 16 at the time of her death and had been in care for a brief period up to that point. Four of the young people died by suicide and the fifth person was found dead with a high level of toxicity in her loodstream, indicating a drug overdose.

See also:

• Review undertaken in repect of Adam| Executive Summary 
• Review undertaken in respect of Brendan
• Review undertaken in repect of Jeff | Executive Summary 
• Review undertaken in respect of baby Sarah