Broken Promises: Survivors forced to wait once again

The Dublin Rape Crisis Centre (DRCC) experienced an increase of 16% in calls to the National 24 hour Helpline for victims of rape and sexual abuse 1 800 77 88 88, in the first six months of 2009 (7,560 calls) compared to the same period in 2008 (6,522 calls). This increase is due mainly to the huge surge in calls to the Helpline following the Ryan Report. There was a 300% increase in the number of first time callers disclosing past childhood sexual abuse in May 2009 compared to the same period in May 2008.

Ellen O’Malley-Dunlop, Chief Executive, DRCC, said “The DRCC is disappointed and angry at the further delay in the publication of the Commission of Investigation into sexual abuse in the Archdiocese of Dublin. While the Centre asked for some space between the publication of the Ryan Report and the Dublin Archdiocese Report , in order to be properly prepared for the avalanche of calls we anticipated, we never envisaged the further delay that is now happening.

We have been preparing for months for the publication of the Commission’s report into sexual abuse in the Archdiocese of Dublin. We know that the Minister for Justice Mr. Dermot Ahern is obliged to publish the report and wants to publish it as soon as possible. At the end of last week we were reading in our papers headlines like Victims of clerical abuse and Minister welcome court decision on report and Most of report can be published after judge’s ruling. The Archbishop of Dublin, Diarmuid Martin, warned people that the long-awaited report would “shock us all” At last the publication of the Report seemed imminent.

For the survivors who have spoken out and who have campaigned with admirable courage and tenacity, at last the end was in sight. Other survivors, who had chosen for their own understandable reasons not to speak out, also needed this Report to be in the public domain. Alas all have now to call on their over stretched patience and inner resources as they are forced to wait once again. Of course no one wants any current criminal prosecutions to be jeopardised by the Report’s publication, but why was this not taken into account before the promise was made that the Report would be published except for Chapter 19, and 21 references to pending cases?”

For further information please contact:
Ellen O’Malley-Dunlop, CEO – 01 661 4911 / 086 809 9618