Irish Examiner view: We still don't know the full extent of child sexual abuse
One in Four reports a ‘record-breaking’ increase in the numbers of adults seeking its support for historic child sexual abuse. Stock picture
The public was blindsided in the 1990s by the revelations surrounding Fr Brendan Smyth and other clerics, whose horrendous sexual abuse of children had been knowingly hidden by their superiors in the Catholic Church.
In some respects, the nation’s psyche was forever tainted by the scandal. But the revelations have kept coming and, unless we are very careful, they will continue to do so.
The most recent examples of the role played by such as the Spiritan order in protecting offenders and hiding the extent of their abuse have only furthered the increasingly widespread belief that we are still not yet close to uncovering the full extent of the damage caused to thousands of children.
That fact was underlined yesterday by a report from the One in Four group, a charity set up over 20 years ago to end the trauma of child sexual abuse, which outlined a dramatic rise in the numbers of victims seeking its advocacy.
Following the publication of the initial stages of an investigation into abuse in schools here, One in Four has reported a ‘record-breaking’ increase in the numbers of adults seeking its support — most of them men.
Victims are seeking help and advocacy in greater numbers than ever as the scoping inquiry revealed 2,400 allegations of child sexual abuse in some 308 schools run by religious orders between the 1960s and the 1990s against 884 abusers.
One in Four took its name from the numbers of Irish people affected by abuse; such is the level of that abuse being uncovered, it could well change its name to One In Three.
Grapple as we have done with the shocking levels of depravity emerging and coming to grips with the tremendous difficulties faced by the victims, we could still be facing into a new and different era of sexual abuse.
Today, the risk to children is not from traditional institutions and religious orders, but from the rapidly evolving online world in which we now live.
It is sobering that 91% of us agree neither the State or Irish society did enough to tackle child sexual abuse and a damming 82% of Irish adults still believe that sexual violence is more common than has thus far been acknowledged.
If we are to learn anything from past mistakes it is that nothing can be taken for granted and in order to ensure future child safety, the State and the community must be vigilant and proactive. Forewarned is forearmed.
For any student of Irish revolutionary politics during the Troubles, the veracity of the reporting done by the late Ed Moloney, who died last Friday, was a constant.
As both a journalist and an author, Moloney’s writings tapped into the beating heart of those on all sides of the conflict and provided a rare clarity into the thinking of both the active combatants and those in the establishment trying to stamp them out.
His insights into the actions of all the many and varied elements of a complex, fast-moving, and ever-evolving kaleidoscope of death, murder, betrayal, and scandal, shed light on the many dark corners of daily life not only in the North, but in the corridors of power in London, Dublin, and beyond.
Moloney’s grasp of the delicate strands of nuance, amid the naked propaganda swilling from every conceivable angle of the bitter war of attrition, always gave his readers the sense that they were getting directly to the heart of the matter.
For his sources too, some of whom knew they were stamping their own death certificate merely by having talked to him, it gave them a rare opportunity to know that their information and knowledge was in the hands of someone who was only interested in the truth.
His was a courageous career, threatened at every moment by the volatile and very murderous participants in one of the most bitter and violent terrorist campaigns — on both sides of the political and sectarian divides.
By merely wanting to expose the truths that many wanted hidden, Moloney exposed himself to incredible risks and even when the conflict came to an end with the signing of the Good Friday Agreement, he pursued truth through a variety of academic endeavours, which only made his life even more dangerous.
Ed Moloney’s fearless work was a beacon, not only to fellow journalists, but to anyone who understands the need for a free and fair press, wherever they are in the world.
Perpetrators of domestic violence against partners or former partners will no longer be able to enjoy anonymity previously afforded them by law.
That the law is being changed to allow the names of such offenders be put on a Register of Judgements will allow people either in relationships or beginning one, to find if their potential partner has a history of serious domestic violence.
Jennie’s Law, as the new legislation is being called — in memory of Jennifer Poole, who was murdered by her ex-partner, Gavin Murphy, in 2021 — is a much-needed breakthrough in relationship management and security.
Jennifer Poole had no idea — and no way of finding out — that Murphy had a history of abusive behaviour and a conviction for assaulting a previous partner. It cost the 24-year-old her life.
The new law is being brought before Cabinet today and is expected to pass. Jennifer’s family has long expressed the view that had a Domestic Violence Register existed, she would be alive today.
Jennifer’s brother Jason said the introduction of the register is a massive step forward on the road to changing the culture around domestic violence.
“There’s a massive positive here that we are changing the culture of domestic violence by having a register that will be publicly available for victims or potential victims to be able to access, so they know their partner, they know who they’re living with.”
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