RCNI Press Release 26 October 2005

Rape Crisis Movement welcomes Ferns Report

The Rape Crisis Network Ireland (RCNI) welcomes the comprehensive Ferns Report. The legacy of this report must be that Ireland becomes a place where disclosure of sexual abuse is treated seriously and where survivors are not condemned when they do speak out.

Fiona Neary, RCNI Executive Director, said ‘This is an historic day for Ireland and we wish to commend the survivors who spoke out and whose efforts made this report possible.

We also wish to recognise those survivors of abuse who have not yet chosen to speak out, were not heard when they tried to and those who remained silenced to their graves or emigrated.

There is absolutely no room for complacency in going forward. The RCNI are interested to see how the recommendations of the committee, Frank Murphy, Dr Helen Buckley and Dr Laraine Joyce are followed through. The protections they will afford are necessary tools in tackling the sexual abuse of children which continues to be pervasive in Irish society today.’

Notes and Statistics:
• The SAVI report, Sexual Abuse and Violence in Ireland, Hannah McGee et al, 2002, found that one in five women had experienced sexual abuse in childhood and one in six men had experienced sexual abuse as boys.
• 5.8% of all boys abused were abused by clergy or religious
• The RCNI is the national forum of Rape Crisis Centres, which provides a strong voice for survivors and is a catalyst for social change to end rape and all forms of sexual violence.

For information contact:
Cliona Saidlear: 087 2196447
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