Our blind spot on sexual abuse

IN his article on the profile of child abusers (Analysis, The Irish Examiner, February 3), Shane Dunphy states: “While abusers are generally male, I have dealt with numerous cases involving female perpetrators, and have been involved in research projects that suggest that as many as 13% of children who have experienced abuse did so at the hands of a female family member”.

He goes on to say “In cases where both parents were involved in the abuse, it is usually the father who will be punished and sent to prison, even where the mother was seen to be the more abusive party.”

In November 2005, The National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC) issued a report entitled Females who sexually offend against children: responses of the child protection and criminal justice systems.