Apologies for past ring hollow when system still abusing children – CARI

A leading charity offering support to children affected by sexual abuse has said that national apologies for past practices “ring hollow when children continue to be abused by an inadequate system”.

Children at Risk in Ireland (CARI) said that a lack of services nationally was leaving children struggling to cope unsupported and that children as young as eight experience thoughts of suicide and self-harm.

Speaking at the launch of the charity’s annual report on Monday, CARI therapy supervisor Monica Murphy said the lack of services for such children was “a shocking scandal”.

“National apologies for past practices ring hollow when children continue to be abused by an inadequate system,” she said. “The sad irony is that the lack of services and practice is harming a new generation of forgotten children to whom a national apology will one day be owed.”

Meanwhile, reacting to a HIQA report expressing grave concerns about the high number of children living in direct provision being referred to child protection, Msgr John Byrne told The Irish Catholic: “We are better at looking back at institutions of the past, than what’s on our doorstep in the 21st Century.”

The parish priest of Portlaoise, who previously compared the local direct provision centre in Emo to an “open prison”, said “questions need to be asked” about how the centres comply with safeguarding guidelines.

“It does appear to me that in direct provision there is a total lack of awareness of the safeguarding guidelines which are present in every club and institution working with children now,” Msgr John Byrne said.

HIQA found that around 14% of the population of children living in centres for asylum seekers were referred to the Child and Family Agency in one year. Children were being left alone for long periods of time, were living in close proximity to unknown adults and there was inappropriate contact by adults towards some children.