Parents advised legal delays must not discourage reporting of crimes

PARENTS of children who have suffered sexual abuse have been urged not to let negative revelations about the legal system put them off reporting crimes.

Psychologists have said landmark research, which this week showed the lengthy delays and difficult procedures facing victims also revealed how people can be helped cope with the ordeal.

On Monday, the Irish Examiner exclusively revealed how children as young as three are the victims of abuse, the quickest they can expect to see their cases progress through the gardaí and prosecution services is 15 months.