DVD to ‘shine a light’ on abuse of disabled people

A DVD about disabled women from Mayo who were sexually abused will help shine a light on the insidious and widespread problem of sexual violence that permeates every sector of society, Taoiseach Enda Kenny said yesterday.

Speaking in Castlebar at the launch by Mayo Rape Crisis Centre of Three Times More Likely, Mr Kenny said: “Its resonance will be apparent to all who see it. It challenges, informs, educates and most of all shines a light under a dark rock. Unfortunately, sexual violence still continues to plague our society. It has a devastating effect on victims and their families.

“This abuse affects people right across our society, affecting people from all walks of life, from all cultural, social and ethnic backgrounds and across all age groups. It should be confronted with vigour, determination and honesty,” he said.

The DVD, which will be used for training carers, tells the stories of two disabled women whose special vulnerabilities left them exposed to abuse and “perfect victims” for exploitation.

As the title suggests, disabled people are three times more likely to be abused due to their communication difficulties, needs for affection or attention, inability to define proper boundaries and their reliance on others for care.

The centre’s director of services, Ruth McNeely, said: “Many survivors of sexual abuse want to tell their stories, they often go through a stage of wanting to shout it from the rooftops. To tell of the injustice, the hurt, and the pain.”

She said the two women featured in the film represent “a community whose invisibility is thankfully at last diminishing”. She said that their desire to tell their stories would have a positive outcome for others.