HELPLINES are reporting a surge in victims of abuse from religious-run day schools contacting them in the wake of the damning Ryan report as well appeals for help in progressing prosecutions against abusers.

A HELPLINE for abuse victims has fielded a month’s worth of calls in seven hours following the publication of the damning report into institutional child abuse.

THERE has been a massive surge in first-time callers as helplines and support groups have been overwhelmed with calls for help from abuse victims since the damning report on religious-run schools was published.

AN out-of-hours phone counselling service received 1,400 more calls last year than in 2007, according to new statistics.

A counselling service for adults who suffered childhood abuse has had its busiest year ever, it was revealed today.