Victims groups welcome the publication of the Murphy Report into child sex abuse in the Catholic Archdiocese of Dublin.
The report by the Commission of Investigation led by Judge Yvonne to examine the handling of child sexual abuse claims in the Catholic Archdiocese of Dublin is well-received by victims groups.
Marie Collins one of the first to go public with her abuse in 1984 says the report has been a long time coming. The Murphy Report brings closure for her and concerns that,
Unless people believed what had been happening in the past, it could go on happening, and I think now this has been revealed and confirmed that children in future will be safer.
Andrew Madden, a survivor of child abuse said the report is a shocking indictment of the Catholic Church in Dublin. He believes bishops working in the Dublin Archdiocese who were moved to other dioceses around the country have questions to answer.
I think it’s right to assume that the ethos and practice that existed with them in Dublin was carried to any diocese they went to around the country.
Victim groups expressed shock at the level of collusion between the church and state authorities. Maeve Lewis, executive director of One In Four Ireland, a charity supporting survivors of childhood sexual abuse, says the most shocking aspect of the report is the failure of the civil authorities to take action. Her heart sank when reading the description of An Garda Síochána as
Conniving with the church, as having inappropriate relationships with the church and of not carrying out their job.
Ellen O'Malley Dunlop chief executive officer of the Dublin Rape Crisis Centre says the report is only the beginning as there is also a need for apologies, reparations and for safeguarding systems to be put in place.
Mary Flaherty chief executive of the Children at Risk in Ireland Foundation, says there is a need to change the Irish Constitution around children.
An RTÉ News report broadcast on 26 November 2009. The reporter is Adrian Lydon.
