Case Studies: Child watchdog slams 'absolutely despicable' delays in establishing sexual abuse services

The children's ombudsman has described as “absolutely despicable” the length of time it took to set up the country's first multi-agency centre for sexually abused children.

Dr Niall Muldoon said child therapy organisation, CARI, had called for such a service in 2008, but that it took until last September for the centre to be eventually established as a pilot.