Campaign supports permanent helpline for abusers

CHILDREN will not be fully protected from paedophiles until there is an avenue for potential offenders to seek help, a conference in Malahide heard yesterday.

Delegates at the National Organisation for the Treatment of Abusers annual conference were told people who feel uncomfortable with their own sexual thoughts and fear they may harm a child have nowhere to turn.

Keynote speakers from the Stop It Now campaign in Britain and Ireland said a permanent helpline should be set up which would help society to face up to the realities of sexually deviant behaviour.