Day school abuse victims seek help

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.

One helpline overall has received nearly 1,000 calls since the launch of the abuse report last week.

Connect, the national adult counselling service, said an increasing number of callers were contacting it who had been abused in day schools, including secondary institutions run by the Christian Brothers.