No room for new clients at sexual abuse support group

One of the country’s main groups for helping victims of sexual abuse has called the lack of services available “a national scandal” as it faces the prospect of not being able to accept new clients for up to four months amid mounting waiting lists for services.

One In Four has had its client list closed for the past 11 weeks and its executive director, Maeve Lewis, said it was likely it would remain that way until June.

That means new clients may have to wait before their names can be placed on a list for appointments, although Ms Lewis said that anybody needing help should not give up hope and the organisation would do whatever possible to help people in the meantime once they first make contact.