Role of social media ‘trend’ in child sex abuse to be tracked
St Louise’s Unit, linked to Our Lady’s Hospital for Sick Children in Crumlin, will look at any instances of sexual harassment through text messages, online bullying or intimidation by alleged abusers and other instances where social media is being used.
Dr Rhonda Turner, principal psychologist at the St Louise’s Unit, said: “We will be tracking the number of cases of social media, online gaming, inappropriate texting and whether they may or may not have played a role in referrals we are receiving.”
She said the reason the unit was now looking into the issue was because staff had noticed “clusters of referrals” in recent years where electronic communications had been a factor, although she stressed that it was only in a small number of cases.
St Louise’s Unit received 175 new referrals last year, while the other main unit dealing with children who may have been abused, St Clare’s Unit at Temple St in Dublin, received more than 60 new referrals.
Dr Derek Deasy, senior clinical psychologist and director of St Clare’s Unit, said he had heard anecdotally of cases in which boys were getting pictures of girls and then disseminating them by text message or posting them online, or else using them to blackmail the girls into carrying out other acts.
He said services needed to be “more social media aware” — “the whole social media business is one that needs regulation”.
The St Clare’s Unit and St Louise’s Unit are two main tertiary centres that provide services to children who have suffered abuse.
Dr Deasy said the unit had been unable to provide maternity cover in the past two years despite being short of sufficient staff.
While the numbers of new and current clients had remained steady, the unit was still operating with insufficient staff, despite it being “the kind of service you cannot cut or offer a light service to”.
St Clare’s also offered 1,600 therapy sessions last year, but Dr Deasy said while the unit should have 11 posts or whole time equivalents, it had between 8.5 and 9, a shortage exacerbated by maternity leave.
However, waiting times are between eight and 10 weeks, much better than a decade ago when clients waited up to nine months, but worse than 2008 when the waiting time was down to two weeks.
At St Louise’s Dr Turner said the unit was operating without a full staff compliment but the hospital had been “supportive” in providing additional cover when required.
The children referred to the units may allege recent or historical abuse, and Dr Turner said one of the first requirements of assessment was to establish credibility of the claims. Two years ago in St Louise’s credibility was established in 64% of referrals, but sometimes cases can be referred elsewhere to other services.
