The Chief Executive of One in Four has said that a documentary broadcast on RTÉ Radio One last week has encouraged a number of people to contact the organisation.
The Documentary on One programme related details of abuse against two brothers at Blackrock College and since its broadcast more people have made allegations against members of the Spiritan Order.
One in Four CEO Maeve Lewis said that last week was an extremely busy one for the organisation with “phone calls all day, every day.”
Speaking on RTÉ’s Morning Ireland, she said the documentary encouraged people – mostly middle aged and older men – who had never before disclosed abuse, to contact One in Four.
Many said they had been abused in Blackrock, she said, but most said they had been abused in other schools or sporting organisations.
“So the documentary really encouraged people who had never sought help before to reach out and if there is anything positive to come from this really dreadful story, that is it.”
Ms Lewis said any inquiry into the Spiritan Order should include a lot of other organisations and that an overarching inquiry into child sexual abuse into a number of organisations should be established.
“In this year alone, there have been disclosures about abuse in Jesuit schools, in Dominican schools. And then we have organisations like Scouting Ireland, and Swim Ireland and so on.
“So perhaps what is needed is an overarching inquiry into child sexual abuse in organisations and into the culture that exists, or existed in this country, that allowed such abuse to be covered up, allowed abusers to be protected, allowed the good name of the organisation to be the primary concern when disclosures were made,” she said.
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Ms Lewis said the media has a huge role to play in allowing people to understand that they are not alone and in encouraging them to come forward.
She also said the number of abuse survivors contacting One in Four who wish to engage in the criminal justice system tends to increase year on year and the organisation supports around 40 people a year whose cases do go to trial.
Although it can be harder to achieve a successful prosecution in historic cases, it’s not impossible, she said, and in many cases a conviction is achieved.
Ms Lewis said her organisation and rape crisis centres generally operate with months’ long waiting lists and when events like last week occur, there is a surge in demand for services, which can make it difficult to meet demand in a timely way.
However, she said, One in Four has been supported by Tusla to engage a waiting list manager which has made a huge difference.
Helplines
One in Four
Web: www.oneinfour.ie
Phone: 01 662 4070
Email: info@oneinfour.org
Dublin Rape Crisis Centre
Web: www.drcc.ie
Helpline: 1800 77 88 88
Phone: 01 661 4911
Email: info@rcc.ie
Charity sees increase in calls after Spiritan claims
Source: Viral Trends Report
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