Just 3% of child abusers unknown to their victims

ALMOST 100% of child abusers know their victims, new figures from the Rape Crisis Network of Ireland reveal. The network found just 3% of child abusers were strangers to their victims, a figure described yesterday as “astounding” by its director, Fiona Neary.

“At a time when the Government are continuing to drag their heels in putting a constitutional referendum on children’s rights before the people, the family home remains singularly unsafe for some children.”

Ms Neary said just over 50% of sexual violence against children was perpetrated by family members or relatives.