McAleese shocked by abuse report

President Mary McAleese says she is shocked by the findings of a new report, which reveals that one in ten women and almost one in three men have been sexually abused.

President McAleese says the silence that entrapped thousands of rape victims must be broken.

The report shows that 42% of women and 28% of men in this country suffer sexual abuse at some stage in their lives.

The “Sexual abuse and Violence in Ireland” survey also says a worrying low number of victims report the incident to the authorities.

One in five girls and one in six boys in Ireland are abused before reaching the age of 17, while as adults one in five women and one in ten men have been assaulted.

The SAVI report, due to be discussed at a Major conference in Dublin castle today, lifts the lid for the first time on the extent and nature of sex abuse in this country.

Another surprising aspect of the report is that one quarter of the perpetrators of these attacks were under 17 themselves.

The survey also highlights the low number of people who seek help.

Over 41% of children abused never told anyone, while those abused as adults more than a third never told anyone.

Over 3000 adults were surveyed in a confidential telephone poll, all who disclosed abuse were offered contact details for support agencies.