“If survivors of child sexual abuse do not feel confident that they will not be further harmed by engaging in the criminal justice system, sex offenders will continue to abuse children with impunity”

One in Four supported 31 clients through a criminal trial in 2017 and says that most survivors of child sexual abuse felt demeaned and humiliated regardless of the verdict

 31% of sex offenders attending the One in Four Phoenix Programme had abused more
than 1 child
 Of the 150 new clients we met in 2017, 35 had attempted suicide before we met them, yet
our waiting list is currently closed
 We made 90 child protection notification to Tusla in 2017

At the launch of its Annual Report 2017 today, One in Four describes how adult survivors of child sexual abuse who engage in the criminal justice system often feel demeaned and humiliated by the process. In 2017 One in Four supported 38 clients whose cases went to trial. 7 concerned mentions in the District Court and 31 went to trial in the Circuit or Central Criminal Courts. Of the 31, there were 5 guilty pleas, 11 guilty verdicts and 8 not guilty verdicts. 4 cases are ongoing.

Executive Director Maeve Lewis says: “We estimate that fewer than 5% of child sex offenders are ever prosecuted for their crimes. This is partly because most victims of sexual crimes are afraid to engage with the criminal justice system. They are afraid of not being believed, afraid of the fallout in their families and communities but most especially they are
afraid of the criminal trial.

Many of our clients met a sensitive and professional response when making a statement to the Gardaí but unfortunately others felt shamed and doubted, usually because they were dealing with a young, inexperienced investigating officer. We welcome the rollout of the specialist Protective Service Units across the country which we hope will address these
challenges.

Almost all the people we supported in 2017 describe the trial process as re-traumatising and degrading. Trials of sexual offences are different from other trials. There is often no forensic evidence or witnesses and everything hinges on the credibility of the witness. Defence barristers use cross-examination not only to challenge the complainant’s account but also their behaviour, character and history in an effort to undermine the reliability of their version of events. Regardless of the verdict, almost all our clients stated that if they had known the ordeal they were facing, they would never have made a complaint in the first place.

We welcome the Criminal Justice (Sexual Offences) Act 2017 and the Victims of Crime Act 2017, both of which introduce important changes into criminal justice processes. We also welcome the decision of Minister for Justice and Equality, Charlie Flanagan, to undertake a review of the trial of sexual offences in 2018. We have submitted research based on our
clients’ experiences, “Only a Witness”, to the Minister. If survivors of child sexual abuse do not feel confident that they will not be further hurt by engaging in the criminal justice system, sex offenders will continue to abuse children with
impunity.”

In 2017 One in Four provided counselling to 167 adult survivors and to 53 family members, a total of 2,814 counselling hours. We met 150 people for a first assessment, of whom 35 had attempted suicide before we met them. The waiting list for counselling in 2017 was on average 7 months. At present our waiting list is closed.

Our advocacy officers supported 646 people to engage with the criminal justice system, to make child protection notifications and with other practical issues. We made 90 child protection notifications to Tusla.

Sex Offenders: The Phoenix Programme
In 2017 we worked with 54 sex offenders and 23 of their family members on the Phoenix Programme.
 35% had abused a child in their own family
 35% had downloaded and shared images of child sexual abuse
 26% had abused a known children in their communities
 31% had abused more than one child

Maeve Lewis continues: “Working with sex offenders and their families is a core child protection strategy. Helping sex offenders understand the pathways that led them to harm a child is the key to prevention and to keep the next generation safe. We liaise very closely and effectively with Tusla child protection teams and the Gardaí in this work. We are the
only agency that works with both convicted and non-convicted sex offenders. People are travelling from all over the country to attend the Phoenix Programme showing that this programme needs to be rolled out nationally. Unfortunately we now have a waiting list for the Phoenix Programme. Can it be right that men who wish to stop abusing children cannot
get a place on an intervention programme due to lack of resources? ”

THE ONE IN FOUR ANNUAL REPORT 2017 WILL BE LAUNCHED BY
MR CHARLIE FLANAGAN, TD, MINISTER FOR JUSTICE AND EQUALITY
WEDNESDAY OCTOBER 10TH