RCNI Press Release 09 February 2005

Reassurance needed from gardai on handling of child pornography complaints

The Rape Crisis Network Ireland’s (RCNI) call for reassurance from Gardaí that there are no other child pornography cases in the system that are not being prioritised.

Fiona Neary, RCNI Executive Director said, ‘there is understandable public unease and distress about child pornography which requires full reassurance from the Gardaí following the Austrian police force’s investigation of a child pornography ring. The failure in communications that seems to have occurred within an Garda Siochana is worrying. The appropriate response from the Gardaí when the Austrian police force told them of the child pornography ring appeared to be absent. We now need full reassurance from an Garda Siochana that there are no other outstanding cases in the system that are not being investigated. Given the continued harm to victims of this type of crime any delay in acting is unacceptable.

This is child abuse at its worst, compounded by the distribution of that abuse so that the abuse is replayed endlessly and irretrievably around the world.’


Please contact Cliona Saidlear on 087 2196447
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