Supports for St John Ambulance  abuse survivors 'misrepresented' 

Mick Finnegan: Department of Children 'misrepresented' supports for survivors. Picture: Sam Boal

A survivor of rape, abused by a former volunteer at St John Ambulance Ireland, has accused the Department of Children of “misrepresenting” the supports offered to victims of the attacks.

Mick Finnegan was first to highlight sexual abuse and rape at the charity, which led to a review by Dr Geoffrey Shannon.

The findings of his report, published in March 2023, said the charity failed to act against the man accused of abuse for years, despite being aware he posed a significant risk to children.

The Government then said St John Ambulance Ireland is providing outreach and support to survivors of the abuse at the charity. 

However, Mr Finnegan said this has not happened, and claimed the Department of Children has persistently misrepresented what is being offered to survivors.

It is deeply misleading for the department to claim that St John Ambulance Ireland has proactively engaged with or provided meaningful outreach to survivors of abuse.

“The reality is that survivors have been left to seek support on their own, without genuine initiative or adequate assistance from St John Ambulance Ireland," he said.

In a letter to Minister for Children Norma Foley dated April 7 and seen by the Irish Examiner, Mr Finnegan said he was writing to “formally challenge and seek immediate correction of your department’s persistent misrepresentation of outreach efforts to survivors of abuse within St John Ambulance Ireland”.

A portrayal that St John Ambulance Ireland is “proactively engaging with and supporting survivors... does not reflect reality and must be addressed with urgency”, he said.

Mr Finnegan acknowledges that some survivors may have accessed counselling services independently, but that was not to be confused with access support provided by St John Ambulance Ireland.

He claimed that the burden of seeking supports “remains on survivors”, who have had to “navigate complex systems” in order to deal with trauma.

He also said that statements being made by the department were causing harm because of “misinformation” and that this “undermines trust” in the Government.

A spokesperson for the Department of Children said it is “clear that all recommendations in Dr Geoffrey Shannon’s report should be complied with as soon as practicable by St John Ambulance Ireland.

“The department has been assured by St John Ambulance Ireland that it is fully committed to ensuring that it assists and provides therapeutic support to all victim-survivors.

“Counselling and therapeutic supports are available and funded by St John Ambulance Ireland for all victim-survivors through independent counselling therapeutic services, and these services are available if victim-survivors wish to avail of them.”