Call for action on youth sex offences

The head of a specialist therapeutic service for children has said Garda figures showing a rise in sexual offences involving juveniles “totally tallies” with their experiences — and repeated calls for urgent action.

CARI chief executive Mary Flaherty said they had seen a rise in calls to their helpline in relation to under 12s engaging in harmful sexual behaviour and said it was at least in part due to exposure to pornography online.