Calls to adult abuse counselling service surges by 37%

CALLS to a vital adult counselling service for people abused as children surged by 37% in the aftermath of the Ryan and Murphy reports.

Figures released by the HSE-funded Connect service show that in the months following the devastating findings of the clerical abuse investigations, thousands of people affected by the crisis contacted the confidential help line.

According to the group, which acts as an out-of-hours support and counselling service for adults who were abused as children, 4,630 people used the helpline in 2007.