Abused teenager met by ‘plague of professionals’

A TEENAGER complained of being visited by “a plague of professionals” at her home since disclosing she had been sexually abused, a conference heard yesterday.

The 16-year-old girl is a patient of child and adolescent psychiatrist, Dr Imelda Ryan, director of St Louise’s Child Sexual Abuse and Assessment Unit at Our Lady’s Children’s Hospital in Dublin.

Dr Ryan, who was speaking during a conference in Dublin that looked at how children disclose their experiences of sexual abuse in Dublin, said the teenager had to recount very traumatic events over and over again to different professionals.

The doctor referred to the Agenda for Children’s Services published by the Government in 2007 that stressed the need to plan, evaluate and monitor services dealing with child sexual abuse

“It mandated that different agencies must work together in a coordinated and integrated manner so as to ensure the prevention of further trauma by avoiding multiple repetitive contacts with children and their families affected by child abuse,” said Dr Ryan.

She said the 16-year-old was struggling to understand the different roles and functions of various professionals visiting her home.

“She was able to describe for me quite beautifully and articulately how she perceives that her family has been visited what she describes as ‘a plague of professionals’ since her disclosure of abuse,” said Dr Ryan.

The child and adolescent psychiatrist also called for reform of the criminal justice system as to how it responds to children who have been sexually abused.

“We need to be aware that we ask a great deal of children who have been victims of abuse when we ask them to participate in this system. It is a system designed for adults, not for children.”

Dr Ryan said children were expected to take part in a process that many adults found to be complex, confusing and intimidating.

“We require children to answer detailed questions about terrifying events in the presence of strangers and often times, the defendant,” she pointed out.

Dr Ryan said the criminal justice system must accommodate children in the same way it does witnesses who do not speak English or have a physical disability.

“I believe it is essential that criminal justice professionals adapt their practice to recognise the developmental stages and the needs of child witnesses so as to ensure children are treated sensitively during the trial process.”

Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, Barry Andrews, who opened the conference co-organised by St Clare’s Unit in Temple Street, Dublin, that assesses children suspected of being sexually abused, said the Joint Committee of Constitutional Amendment on Children had until December 16 next to produce its final report.

“There will be a report before Christmas and there is no question of the committee being extended beyond that period,” he said.

He also confirmed that separate interview facilities for children under 16 giving evidence during criminal trials would be increased from three to seven next year.