Harney has ‘open mind’ on mandatory abuse reporting

TÁNAISTE Mary Harney has an “open mind” on the introduction of mandatory reporting and expressed her surprise that the Ferns report was opposed to it.

The children’s charities, Barnardos and the ISPCC, have been leading calls for designated professionals to be legally obliged to report known or suspected child abuse to authorities.

Barnardos chief executive, Fergus Finlay, said the reporting of alleged abuse should not be a “matter of discretion for anyone.”