Year-long assessment wait for abused kids

SEXUALLY abused children are having to wait up to a year to be clinically assessed by specialists, a leading child protection group said yesterday.

Children At Risk in Ireland (CARI) national clinical director Eileen Prendiville said that the first 48 hours following a child's disclosure of sexual abuse had the greatest impact on their potential to heal.

Ms Prendiville said children could be waiting more than a year to be assessed because of a lack of resources to deal with cases. "No child should have to wait that long," she said.