merrion street

I was deeply saddened to learn of the untimely death of Norah Gibbons. 

Norah was an exceptional woman who brought her innate judgment, common sense and humanity to everything she did.  

Norah Gibbons leaves behind a tremendous legacy, in particular for the children of Ireland.

During her final illness, Norah continued to work to help others, through her leadership of the independent study on familicide and domestic homicide. It was typical of her resolute sense of purpose that, in recent weeks, she was keen to ensure that this important work would be completed and I was glad to be able to give her that assurance.  

All through her life, she was a passionate and tireless advocate for children and others in vulnerable situations. First as a social worker and in later roles including Director of Advocacy at Barnardos, she devoted her career to improving the lives of others.

She made a major contribution in her work as a member of the Commission to Inquire into Child Abuse and other bodies addressing the horror of historic child abuse, both in this State and in Northern Ireland. She chaired the Roscommon Child Abuse Inquiry, co-chaired the Independent Child Death Review and from 2014 to 2018 she served as the first Chair of Tusla.

I extend my deepest sympathy to her husband Sean, son Miles and daughter Maireas, her wider family circle as well as her colleagues and many friends.

Ar dheis Dé go raibh a hanam dílis.

Notes for Editors

Norah Gibbons was a qualified social worker with significant practical experience in Ireland and the UK.  She was a member of the Commission to Inquire into Child Abuse (2000-2009), chaired the Roscommon Child Abuse Inquiry (2009-2010) and co-chaired the Independent Review Group on Child Deaths (2010-2012). She was Director of Advocacy with Barnardos (2005-2012) and a member of the Acknowledgement Forum of the Historical Abuse Inquiry in Northern Ireland (2012-2015). She served as the first Chair of Tusla, the Child and Family Agency (2014-2018). She was in 2019 appointed by the Minister for Justice and Equality to lead the independent study on familicide and domestic homicide.

Responsibility for leading the study on familicide and domestic homicide was recently, at the request of Norah Gibbons, passed to Maura Butler.  Maura Butler is a solicitor and has been a member of the Study’s Advisory Group since its establishment.