Disclosure practice in abuse cases under fire

THE practice regarding disclosure of documents in cases of child sexual abuse is “ad hoc” and serving neither the accused nor child victim’s interests, a leading children’s solicitor has said.

Catherine Ghent, who represents children in care, expressed her serious concern at the “on-going failure” to regulate disclosure in criminal cases of child sexual abuse.

The issue was raised last month in Geoffrey Shannon’s fourth report on child protection, where it was stated there has been a “marked increase” in the number applications for access to abuse complainants’ medical and counselling records in sexual assault cases.