Scanty account of the family's failure (4,8)

I believe the answer is:

poor relation

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'the family's failure' is the definition.
The definition suggests a singular noun which matches the answer.

'scanty account' is the wordplay.
'scanty' becomes 'poor' (I've seen this in another clue).
'account' becomes 'relation' (relation is a kind of account).
'poor'+'relation'='POOR RELATION'

'of' acts as a link.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for poor relation that I've seen before include "Inferior person/thing" , "Inferior member of group" .)

I've seen this clue in The Irish News.

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