A probe by the Social Welfare Ministry into the social welfare centre in the eastern Croatian town of Nova Gradiska identified an omission by the centre's social workers who were in charge of the case of a two-year-old girl who died on Sunday due to injuries inflicted by her mother.

This also means that the head of the welfare centre, who has been dismissed in the meantime, is responsible, said Marija Barilic, the head of the head of the Family and Social Policy Directorate, on Monday.

The probe found that the child, who was living with a foster family until November last year, should not have been returned to her biological parents.

In a shocking case of domestic abuse that caused outrage in the country, the girl was brought to hospital in the eastern Croatian town of Nova Gradiska on Wednesday evening with severe brain contusions and injuries all over her body. On Thursday, she was transported to the Children’s Hospital in Zagreb, where she succumbed to her injuries on Saturday. 

She was beaten by her mother who, along with her father, was arrested last week. The mother is set to be charged with causing grievous bodily harm resulting in death and, if sentenced, is looking at a prison sentence of up to 15 years. Both parents were remanded in 30-days custody.

Investigators suspect that the girl was abused between November 2020 and March 31 2021, while the couple’s other three children, who have been separated from their parents last week, are believed to have been abused for a longer time.

Barilic noted that the chambers of social workers and psychologists were expected to complete their investigation and say if the social worker and psychologist in charge of the case had acted in line with professional rules.

She also said that amendments to the Social Welfare Act envisaged structural changes with regard to the organisation of social welfare centres and family centres.

The oversight role of social welfare centres will be separated from the preventive role of family centres, she said, adding that she thought the proposed changes were good.

Announcing for May a campaign aimed at raising public awareness of the need to prevent domestic violence, she said that not only professionals but also anyone else suspecting domestic violence – relatives, neighbours and friends – have a duty to report it.