Martin: Schools must be helped to safeguard children

SCHOOLS must be fully supported in their role of recognising and reporting suspected child abuse, Dublin Archbishop Diarmuid Martin said last night.

He was addressing a meeting of the Dublin branch of the Irish Primary Principals’ Network (IPPN), an organisation which has twice this year raised concerns about reports to health authorities about signs of possible abuse not being acted upon. Dr Martin said it is important that there be co-operation between all those involved in child safeguarding

“The experience that emerged from my unfortunately extensive understanding of the child abuse that took place in Dublin is that, in many situations, abuse would have been detected much earlier had such co-operation been more effective,” he said.