Social Services staff who were involved with the McElhill family and another family whose daughter stayed with the McElhills prior to the Lammy Fire, could be investigated by the Northern Ireland Social Care Council. The Council maintains the register of social work practitioners and could become involved should any disciplinary proceedings arise from the Toner Review.

A spokesperson for the Council said, "Public confidence will require that as the regulator of social care staff, the NI Care Council carries out its own investigation into these matters. At this stage it is too early to say exactly what the nature and extent of that investigation will be but the chair of the council, Dr Jeremy Harbison has commented "all who are interested in this case will wish to have confidence that the council will look into the findings of the report robustly, fairly and impartially. In taking this forward, we will be looking at the extent to which the codes of practice for both social care workers and their employers were discharged."

The council spokesperson added, "The report highlights a series of failures and deficits in social services practice in this case. There is no need to repeat them – they are highlighted eloquently and forcefully in the report itself."

However, local a trade unionists umbrella group in Omagh has expressed concern that there is a climate developing where the authorities may be looking for scapegoats from within the social work staff at the Trust.

Secretary of Omagh Trades Council, Anton McCabe, said that what happened at Lammy raises questions concerning a long-term lack of resources in the care services which may now be covered up. "Let's face it, it's easier to chop off a couple of junior or middle-ranking people's heads than address that resources shortfall."

He continued, "I know that a number of members of staff at the Trust feel that they might be selected as sacrifices. Obviously this is not the way to treat any kind of investigation. I would ask the Trust that any further investigation look into how procedures could be improved rather than trying to apportion blame to one or two individuals which is contrary to any principle of justice. We have to be clear as well that staff members have not been proven guilty of any short comings."