Criminal justice system a 'problem' for sex abuse victims

The One in Four charity has said the big problem facing sex abuse victims is the criminal justice system.

One in Four is a charity providing support and resources for people who have experienced sexual abuse and violence in Ireland.

The charity has said funding cuts are impacting on their services and they know of at least three people who took their own lives while on a waiting list to see a counsellor.

It also said the Government has failed to implement improvements that were promised in the wake of the Murphy and Ryan reports.

One in Four Director Maeve Lewis has said many sex abuse victims are scarred further by criminal trials: “The really big problem is criminal trial,” Ms Lewis said.

“Without a doubt every single client we have had who has gone through a criminal trial, even where there is a conviction, have said if they knew what they were facing going into the courtroom they would never have made a complaint.”