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A GIRL WHO was repeatedly sexually abused by her elder brothers and father in the late 1980s was left in her family home despite State health authorities being alerted to her plight.
The victim ‘Karen’ – not her real name – spent two years and 11 months living with her abusers while the Eastern Health Board (EHB) dealt with her case.
During that time, gardaí were never notified of her claims, or of admissions of guilt by two of her abusers (one of whom was a schoolboy at the time) even though it had been specified by EHB workers shortly after the abuse claims were aired that gardaí would have to become involved.
Karen says she received a verbal, informal apology from the HSE in 2012 for its predecessors’ conduct in their handling of the sexual abuse case.
Her files – which have been seen by TheJournal.ie – outline the mishandling of her situation by the EHB between 1988 and 1991, at which point Karen turned 18.
On at least four occasions during those years, social workers, psychiatrists and community care workers working within the EHB discussed the need for Garda involvement in Karen’s case. Despite this being marked in various reports as the next step in a plan or a ‘decision taken’, on no occasion were the gardaí actually contacted.
The story has echoes of a current scandal facing the HSE, in which a woman (known as ‘Grace’) with severe intellectual disabilities was left in a foster home in Waterford for 14 years after an allegation of abuse was made at that home.
“What bothers me is seeing the case of Grace in that foster home. Because I know that story is no isolated case – the same thing happened to me,” Karen told TheJournal.ie.
Karen only gained access to her file for the first time three years ago.
She did not realise that the HSE even held a file on her experiences as a teenager until 2011, when an officer employed by the executive disclosed to her that he had “read her file from the 1980s”.
The file
Karen first revealed that she was being abused at home in 1986. She was 13 years old and told a friend at her school what was happening with her older brothers. The friend urged Karen to tell someone in authority.
On that occasion the matter was dealt with by a combination of Karen’s school principal, her brothers’ principal from a different school, her parents, and a local priest – who Karen alleges, in a misguided attempt to soothe or mollify her, said that “boys will be boys after all”.
In September 1987, she was interviewed about the allegations of abuse by the principal in her brother’s school. At that time, one of her brothers apologised about what had happened and promised not to do it again. Karen says the abuse lessened but still continued.
Her story first became known to the health authorities – in her case the Eastern Health Board – when her mother referred her to a child psychiatrist at Crumlin Children’s Hospital the following year in April 1988, when she was just 14.
Her mother made the decision after discovering writings of Karen’s which described how she had been suffering sexual abuse, by her father at first and latterly also by her elder brothers, since she was four or five years old.
After “approximately five” meetings between Karen and her psychiatrist, her case was referred to a series of social workers in her local EHB area by that psychiatrist on 3 October 1988.
This was also the first occasion on which Garda involvement was broached – the psychiatrist in question informing Karen’s mother that “it is at the discretion of the director of community care whether or not gardaí need to be involved”.
Agents were swiftly appointed to the case to work with the family – but while a social worker met with Karen’s mother, no such community care representative ever sat down with Karen herself after the allegations were first made.
TheJournal.ie has seen the two partially-redacted letters which made social services aware of the situation. The psychiatrist makes reference to the fact that her patient’s abuse at the hands of one of her brothers “was more extensive and long lasting, culminating in sexual intercourse”.
The family is described to the EHB as experiencing “severe family dysfunctioning”.
Karen’s psychiatrist also told social services:
I feel that we really have to listen to what this girl is saying and work on the presumption that it is, in fact, true.
The majority of Karen’s EHB file – which she received through a Freedom of Information request in 2012 – is dominated by minutes of meetings taken by social workers assigned to her case, together with the professional opinion of her psychiatrist.
The first suggestion that she should be removed from the family home came in an assessment report by Karen’s psychiatrist, dated 22 July 1988.
“I feel that more details of abuse may occur as Karen progresses in therapy,” the assessment reads.
From a psychological viewpoint, the possibility of residential placement if the home situation does not improve, may have to be considered.
Gardaí not involved
A memo regarding a meeting between senior social workers and Karen’s psychiatrist on 24 November 1988 determines that “gardaí will have to be involved” in her case. But those present at the meeting decided that before any report could be made to the gardaí, there should first be a joint meeting between social workers and Karen’s parents.
“This is a very disturbed family… playing very dangerous games,” the memo reads.The social workers clearly regarded this meeting with Karen’s parents as very important, because they decided that “the gardaí will be held until after this meeting”.
Powerful controls are needed over them. There are implications for the younger children also. The sexual abuse is called “it” all the time and this has never been disclosed.
Five months later, in March 1989, another meeting was held on Karen’s case. The minutes of this meeting make clear that “gardaí have not yet been involved” in a plan of action for the case, and that it will be necessary for this to happen.
It is inferred from the case file that Karen’s mother was strongly against the idea that her daughter should be removed from her home, “for fear of what the community would think”.
“That was not her call to make,” says Karen, who is no longer in contact with any members of her family.
Karen maintains that, while her father left the family home in December 1988 and did not return, her abuse continued, albeit sporadically, at the hands of her older brothers.
In the minutes of the meeting involving social workers and Karen’s psychiatrist on 10 March 1989, reference is made to how Karen “despised her mother for not getting him (her father) out of the house”.
Karen is now happy that he has left – her mother knows this is best for the children but it is not what she wants. She appears depressed and unhappy.
The same meeting set forward a four-point plan of action for Karen’s case going forward. It read:
A handwritten report on a home visit conducted by the social worker assigned to the case in April 1989 points out that the “issue outstanding in this case is the involvement of the gardaí”. This point is underlined.
This is the fourth mention in the files about the need for the gardaí’s involvement. Still they were not contacted. No explanation is given as to why this is the case.
Karen is adamant that at no time were the gardaí consulted or made aware of her situation between 1988 and 1991. Her files confirm this.
Likewise, the idea that she might be removed from the home does not appear to have been given any real consideration, while none of the social workers assigned to her case ever actually met her. Their meetings were solely with her parents, one of whom had acknowledged that he had molested her.
Admissions
Multiple documents from the file detail Karen’s father’s admissions regarding his behaviour towards his daughter. He admitted to being ‘oversexual’ with her and to touching, kissing and fondling her breasts.
A meeting of senior social workers and Karen’s psychiatrist on 24 November 1988 details how Karen’s father “has admitted to being oversexual towards Karen in the past”.
Likewise, a summary letter from Karen’s psychiatrist to the main social worker involved in the case from 10 September 1991 says that Karen’s father “admitted to touching Karen in the breast region, but was saying that this was intended as a comforting gesture and was devoid of any sexual content”.
This letter also details that Karen’s psychiatrist was concerned about her situation and that “as interviews progressed, I became aware that Karen was in need of more structured, focused therapy regarding her previous experiences of being abused”.
Despite acknowledgement and confirmation that her accusations of sexual abuse were valid, she was never removed from her home.
“When you see what happened with the likes of Roma children here being taken from their home by gardaí and you think ‘maybe they’re just being overly-vigilant’ – well none of that vigilance was in place in my case,” Karen says.
It was much more a case of ‘what would the neighbours say?’.
And then you hear about what happened to ‘Grace’, left to rot in a home in Waterford, and you realise that nothing has changed.
Vigilance by the gardaí was never an option in Karen’s case as they were simply never made aware that she needed protection.
No further role
Over a year after informing social services of her situation, Karen’s psychiatrist in Crumlin referred her to the Adolescent Incest Survivors group at the Dublin Rape Crisis Centre on 8 November 1989, something Karen was only eligible to do once she passed 16 years of age.
After this, Karen’s interaction with her child psychiatrist ceased.
In December 1989 a memo from a home visit by the EHB social worker describes how a barring order application against Karen’s father from entering the family home was dropped as he had “sworn an undertaking” not to enter the house.
In that same memo the EHB social worker says that “with support systems being in place for Karen… there is no further role for social work involvement in this case”.
Her brothers still lived in the same home.
The social worker makes specific reference to Karen’s mother who is described as “a woman who has soaked up all of the crisis presented to her as wife and mother, in such a quiet and undemanding way, perhaps too quiet and undemanding”.
In 1992, by now aged 19, Karen made three separate complaints of her own volition to gardaí regarding what had happened to her.
Karen subsequently alleged in civil court proceedings she took against her brothers that “her mother put her under severe pressure to withdraw her complaint to the gardaí, due to the fact that her mother was fearful that her sons’ lives would be ruined if the full force of the law were applied to them”. She withdrew her complaints some time in 1993.
In 1994 Karen finally left the family home. She was then 20.
Distressing
“When I was being seen by the child psychiatrist in Crumlin they were more concerned about the fact that I was self-harming than about what was happening to me at home,” Karen says.
She describes the the discovery of her old case files as being “distressing”.
Just to know that there was awareness among members of the health board that I was being sexually abused. And nothing was done.
In 2015, Karen took civil proceedings against her two elder brothers. During the case against one of her brothers, the High Court heard that her abuse began in 1979 when she was five years old.
The court record sums up Karen’s testimony: “She was told to get into bed with him and he touched her inappropriately. The degree and intensity of the sexual abuse escalated in 1980 when the touching became more intimate and involved digital penetration three times per week approximately.”
There was further escalation of abuse to vaginal and anal intercourse once or twice per week when she reached the age of puberty. When asked to stop, it is alleged that the defendant told the plaintiff that he would tell their mother about other sexual activity between her and her older brother and that she would not be believed.
One of Karen’s brothers attempted to have the case against him dismissed because of her delay in bringing it. He refused to answer her claims, citing his privilege against self incrimination. He lost the motion, after which the legal action against him was settled out of court, as was the action against Karen’s other brother.
Karen doesn’t believe that were her circumstances to happen today that anything different would transpire:
“I don’t think it would be handled differently because the same people are in charge,” she says.
Both the child psychiatrist who had Karen as a patient and the social worker who dealt with her case to the greatest extent are still working. The psychiatrist is still employed by the HSE, while the social worker has gone into private practice.
They stood over what they did. They left me there. The people in charge at the HSE are more concerned with covering themselves than anything else.
After contacting the HSE – the EHB’s successor – for comment TheJournal.ie was told all legacy cases were taken on by Tusla, the State child and family agency. Asked for comment with regard to Karen’s story, the agency replied in a statement saying it “cannot comment on individual cases”.
“This is to protect the confidentiality and privacy of the children and families with whom we work,” the statement reads. “Complaints regarding the kind of abuse detailed in this story can be made to Tusla at 01 771 8500 or by emailing tellus@tusla.ie. Anyone who wishes to report an allegation or concern about a child should contact their local Social Work Office.”
Tusla later contacted TheJournal.ie to suggest that Karen might want to make contact with a Community Care officer. She didn’t.
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wow, the ball wasn’t just dropped, it was kicked right off the field
#notgoodenough
It seems historically, anything deemed damaging and negative was buried, and flat out denied. All under the guise of “maintaining social order”. It’s a complete sham.
Imagine all the stuff that happened that we’ll never know about if this is the type of stuff we are hearing about now.
The good aul days weren’t all that good it seems.
That was a great priest “boys will be boys” p rick
These incompetent “care” workers are still working? One being paid by the state?? Accountability is dead within our civil service and government. It never lived obviously.
Not just care workers but two school principals as well. How sick of a society do we live in. The revelations about Michael Noonan would be front page on every newspaper and news organization in any normal country and he would be forced to resign. Not in Ireland though, it really shows how widespread abuse was, and more worringly, lots of people knew about it and ignored it. Fair play to the Irish Examiner, unlike the pathetic Times and Independent. They must have something to hide themselves!
Another thing, where is Mairiaw Cahill? She said she entered government to advocate for abuse victims yet is conspicuous by her silence on this case.Hypocrisy at its finest from her, and the entire FF,FG and Labour parliamentary parties, considering their different alpriacjt last year!
*attitudes
Pjm, i thought that was a fair point but a quick search shows she hasn’t been silent on this case though. You might look up what she’s said in the Senad, and you’ll find more details on her fb page.
@pjm I may be missing something but what’s it got to do with Michael Noonan. The Ministers for Health in the period 1988-91 when this took place were all Fianna Failers … Rory O’Hanlon, Mary O’Rourke and possibly one other.
Have a quick Google about the Grace case.
… To think Noonan takes part in running thins country, only in Ireland/Banana Republic.
Clifford Brennan if you are referring to MC she has castigated some of those who have tried to raise the latest allegations re Michael Noonan. Claire Daly in Dáil and now the Examiner claim that the foster father lobbied Michael Noonan stating that Grace was in a “happy and secure” home. Grace was subsequently allowed to remain despite a decision having been made by health officials to remove her. See here http://www.irishexaminer.com/ireland/letter-shows-grace-remained-in-home-after-foster-father-lobbied-michael-noonan-383497.html
MC states she resents the use of an abuse case without permission but neglects to acknowledge that the case was brought into the public domain as it was almost ignored up to that point. Since then a few very hardworking journos have been digging and further info has come to light. Some of that has referenced Noonan and the role he may have played in Grace remaining in the foster home. It has also emerged that he may also have had some involvement in Monageer. This info came via Garry O’Halloran, a man Noonan claimed mot to know. This has since been disproved. So there are questions to answer and it seems to be growing despite attempts to shut it down.
I don’t want to deflect too much but MC had no problem making many allegations, some of which have been disproved already and others will remain due to her refusal to appear in court.
All victims of CSA deserve answers and justice. When the establishment tries to close debate down then you have to ask why?
Corruption and hypocrisy perhaps?
This is so sad and so unfair. What an absolute nightmare that poor girl lived through.
Front page of today’s Examiner showing that Noonan directly interfered in the Grace case including a letter from his secretary at the time to the abuser regarding the lobbying means he should resign immediately.
Shame. Shame on him. Shame on his staff. Shame on Irish society
What in the world is going on?? What kind of person/social worker/health board employee would delay helping a child who they knew was being sexually abused. The depravity in this article is beyond words.An apology to this girl needs to be accompanied by a large payment.
Her case workers should be charged with neglect!
You cab’t pay a civil servant in line with their performance, or fire them for doing a lousy job. So failing to hold them accountable would be in keeping with how the civil service expects to be treated.
There has to be accountability for this – too many of these issue are blamed on the system and no individual is ever held responsible. Until the protection given by the state to these employees is lifted this will continue
If this was the UK jail would be a real possibility.Why is there no accountability in this country.
Because staff canteen be sacked for this let alone jailed!
I think the UK situation is as bad as it is here, probably down to social workers and all the rest involved living on a different planet to the more normal members of society.
It’s not the social workers Ted. It’s the system as in the case of Health Boards such as the HSE that are designed with micro management to protect the managers, organisation and ultimately the politicians. Thankfully this case is historical and many changes have been put in place to prevent such actions. That aside huge caseloads, burnout and limited resources don’t help create a positive child centred service.
Noonan’s behavior towards this, is just criminal he should resign without a doubt
Why should he? He’ll top the poll on Friday regardless of vulnerable women like Grace and Brigid McCole. Like most politicians in this country, he’s shameless and untouchable.
@Daisy, that’s up to his constituents.
If enough feel this whole situation isn’t relevant then they will vote for him.
Humans have an amazing capacity to willfully ignore things that do not suit us.
If it was Gerry Adams the mainstream media would be up in arms. Course it’s darling Noonan so it’ll be largely ignored.
If true, they all should be sacked and locked up
I feel so sorry for Karen but I am not in least surprised by this story. There is outrage now but sadly there are many, many more Karens out there. Those involved in the cover ups have been able to get away with it for so long is because so few challenge. The cover ups, disinterest, call it what you will is being led from the top by Government ministers. Currently there are various allegations re Michael Noonan, Austin Currie and their behaviour and responses to pleas for help for Grace and other victims in the SE. Noonan has acknowledged that there was correspondence and has already contradicted himself as to what he knew
.
There were also allegations made by Garry O’Halloran a barrister and a former candidate for FG for the Seanad. Noonan denied even knowing him until GO’H reminded Noonan that he helped him canvass for the Seanad seat.
What is even more disturbing is how all this is being largely ignored by the media. No screaming headlines, no discussions on radio or TV, no daily articles in the Journal. The Examiner is the only paper covering it. What does that say about agendas, media manipulation and cover up?
Yet we had allegations made by Maira Cahill, who despite the impressions given was given her day in court. She walked away as one witness she hadn’t expected to be there turned up. She said he had no right to be there but as he claimed himself she had leveled accusations against him also and he had a right to go to court to clear his name.
It seems that the Noonan story is being buried at least until after the election. If we care about Karen, Grace etc we should be challenging politicians, media etc as to why there seems to a hierarchy when it comes to victim support, who commands headlines, what is investigated and how, what is not being told and said and what is.
Politiicans like Regina Doherty, Joan Burton etc offered massive support to MC yet where are they now demanding to know what Noonan did or did not know? Hypocrites.
@KerryWynne I wish your comment made comment of the week. But it won’t. Unfortunately everything you’ve said is true and accurate. It is such a sad indictment of how things are done in this country. Sad and shameful :(
Em Ni Mhurchu Thank you. It is a subject very close to my heart and it sticks in my craw when I think of the reaction to MC and the subsequent reaction to other stories.
The Journal is highlighting Karen’s heartbreaking case but why are they not persuing Michael Noonan for answers on other cases? I cannot understand why it is only the Examiner who are doing this on their own. RTE are also avoiding this There should be no selective process as to which case to persue. There should be no hierarchy of victims.
This should have been an election issue given the furore last year. Why is it not? I suspect it is because it would open a can of worms as outlined above and every attempt must be made to keep things as they are.
Heads should roll. Absolute shame on those who did nothing. But wait and see. No accountability
I feel sorry for women living in abusive homes. Its good to see that as a society we are not tolerating this any more.
If these people are still working in the HSE I wouldn’t be so sure it’s not still being tolerated.
Problem being we make noises about protecting victims of abuse and helping people escape abusive relationships but the fact of the matter is, as always, not enough is being done. Refuges are underfunded, services just don’t exist and laws aren’t good enough to truly stamp it out. It’ll always happen, there’ll always be lookers and horrible people in the world but we can’t afford to leave people in their hands which is what the hse does and has done for years. Everyone involved in this case should be tracked down and jailed for conspiracy to cover up a crime. This is shameful and horrific.
@bazhealy
“Refuges are underfunded…”
This case isn’t about abuse of a woman by her partner; it’s about horrendous crimes that were committed against a child by her father and her brothers and her mother’s lack of concern for her.
My comment was relating back to the previous one about abusive homes and people being trapped in those situations. I never once referred to women or solely to domestic abuse. You made that jump. Without refuges where is anyone to go, be that kids or spouses? The only way to help those suffering abuse is to get them out of that place and then destroy the abusers by any and all means necessary. Anyone acting as the HSE or EHB staff have in this case should be treated as an accomplice and penalised just as cruelly.
@bazhealy
I acknowledge that.
The emphasis should be on having domestic abusers arrested and charged and removed from the family home so that the victims won’t have to leave.
There is a Garda investigation underway in relation to alleged reckless endangerment (an offence created in law in 2006) with regard to Grace.
This is only the start of it unfortunately.
This country just doesn’t do common sense.
This country has let down so many kids in the past and is still doing so today. It’s all about money! That’s the bottom line not the best interest of the child
I think it has a lot more to do with a blasé attitude towards sexual assault colliding with incompetence and a lack of clear accountability. Where money comes into it, is where the former Boards and now the HSE are seriously under funded and very inefficient in using what resources they do have.
@carolinemanganreid is there any section of Ireland that is any different ? Medical/ financial/ housing.. its all about money not people. Look at yesterday’s news.. homelessness figures up..Richie boucher states boi will pay dividends next year as the bank is massively profitable…
@Declan Madsen
I don’t think that reporting child abuse to the Gardaí costs any money.
When there is suspicion that children are being abused at home, Gardaí have the authority to remove the children from the home.
Yeah, good luck with that, Ciaran.
I’m by no means making excuses for those involved in that poor girl’s case. There are no excuses there. Sorry my statement meant even now the government is still letting kids down as they are shutting down badly needed supports, placing kids in wrong placements and over stretched social workers because they wont hire more all in the name of budget
@Rashers
Why do you say that? The reporting of actual and alleged child abuse is mandatory.
Enda Kenny should sack Noonan and he should be charged with neglect of a minor in care of the state.
I am disgusted with this case, make me sick. Poor women has not only lost her innocence but her family. Can not imagine the turmoil that she must be going through daily, hourly… It’s a disgrace what she has gone through. I’m sicken by this, absolutely sicking! Hope she gets the now the help to many have some kind of a normal future. With love and support, the two natural behaviours that all should receive from family! Very sad indeed.
It happens believe me
For all the meetings and all the minutes taken,
So much was said, but nothing done.
Really admire the strength and bravery of ‘Karen’ still reporting her abusers even with all external influences trying to stop her.
It appears from these snippets that the social workers nor the psychiatrist mentioned the abuse by the brothers at all, which is odd! The social workers seemed content that once the father was out of the home and ‘karen’ was receiving help via the Rape Crisis incest support group everything that could be done was done and she was no longer in danger of abuse! Were they not aware of the abuse from the brothers? Anyway regardless, it was their job to get to the root of her problems no matter how long it took them and to ensure that she was happy , safe and really supported. Did I read that the social workers never even met her? That poor child going through all that. I can’t imagine the suffering! It appears that these professionals do a quick fix ie. remove the dad and then say , job done, problem sorted, public do not know and then it gets quickly brushed away out of sight out of memory. It makes me so mad.
Oh Jesus H Christ, how much more of this can we hear about without running amok and starting to kill public officials? I know that the culpability for abuse is solely down to the abuser – but he who is made aware of it, and does nothing, is a ba*tard in my view.
It is well past the time that those responsible for this abject failure to protect a child are sacked or reassigned to posts where their incompetence can harm no one
This is a disgrace! They, the authorities failed to take action, that is immediately give safe sanctuary to the child and report the criminals to the Gardai. By failing in their duty, all those care workers etc should be sacked and all arrested as accomplices to this heinous crime. By their inaction, they are also responsible for the abuse. Shame on ye! The old cowardly way of cover up again. The victim must get legal advice and sue these wretches.
Not one bit surprised, probably still happening today . The HSE is an all for profit organisation, they don’t give a sh## about anyone.
This is appalling anyone who was over the board durning this time should be arrested people need to stop turning there heads.
It’s headlines like this that make me hate Ireland sometimes…
Did those care workers go home and sleep every night knowing they had left that poor child with her abusers? This reads like a horror story – stomach turning.
What use are the Garda they advised the Abuser to go to Counciling.
The whole system is fecked up as is the whole country!
A pathetic Banana Republic inhabited by idiots and run by morons!
Can’t wait for Paddys Day when all these proud to be Irish idiots roaming the streets again!
What exactly are you morons be proud of? Queen Maeve? Michael Collins? It certainly cannot be anything that happened in your life time!
Boo an needs to resign immediately!
He is a vile, shameless individual with no morals or honour!
God almighty, disgraceful. The cover ups that went on.these people must be brought to justice, pensions cancelled, and prison.
Not surprised or shocked by this in any way, Karen will be one of many, thats how Irish society treat its children, boys will be boys, and its at the discretion of the HSE if the police become involved????
Disgusting, and shameful, to say the least, but no real surprise, at the arrogance of the priest and the incompetence of the social workers.
Social workers visited my house three times while I was pregnant, aged 10 and a half, a psychiatrist report on my family said we were to be closely monitored that never happened and as a result my daughter was born in my family home and murdered to protect the paedopihles that abused me.
Please visit my blog http://www.noleenbetrayed42years.blogspot.com or my facebook page Sindy Theresa Murphy (my childhood name growing up in Dalkey where all this happened and the paedophiles who abused me still live, and sign my petition.
Ireland has a shameful past. This is horrendous and the HSE actions were disgraceful, letting people’s lives be destroyed for the sake of not causing fuss, disgusting.
It’s hard to fathom such depravity that a little tiny innocent girl who had to be going to school , to mass, to friends houses and yet no body looked close enough to see her distress. Even the kids at school knew her horrible secret as she told them the poor little thing so I presume one or some told their parents . I hate to think that as we eat or sleep or watch TV little children with no power at all or ability to protect themselves are being abused . Imagine having years of living that life in your childhood . Medical and social welfare left her there . How in the name of God does that happen in civilised society . Does the sentence my daddy and brothers are touching me not send them charging to her defence as they would for their own children .
In all the comments above calling for heads to roll nobody has mentioned the mother. What woman stands by and watches another female (her daughter) go through that daily hell? And it seems to be the case in the majority of these family abuse cases. Don’t get me wrong the authorities handled this very poorly and heads should roll but when the mother takes the side of the abusers (because of what people might think otherwise ffs) the abused person is truly sunk. If cell doors are to be opened “mum” should be one of the first in.
But this wont happen because the status of the family is sancrosanct in Irish law.
That was my thoughts too while reading this.
It’s a parents main job to protect their children. The father was a monster, but the mother stood by and let it carry on.
She is the very first person that should have taken the girl out of the house and rang the Guards.
While its unpalatable, there are women who are either complicit in, or turn a blind eye to their children’s abuse. Just being a Mother doesn’t mean your necessarily any good at the job
Regarding public servants, they are protected by very powerful union’s, the citizen comes very low in the pecking order I.m afraid.
Makes you think they are all a click of pedos in this country?
Interesting to know if the profession of the abuser was in the legal profession.
Oh make no mistake about it, a lot of the mothers know, we have a group on facebook calling for mothers and anyone who knows about abuse and does not report it to be jailed,
https://www.facebook.com/groups/jailmotherswhoaidandabetabuse/?ref=bookmarks
In our system the rich and powerful are above the law as this case shows.
I dont think the family were either rich or powerful, dont twist a sad case for your own agenda
horrible horrible case. Thankfully cases are dealt with better now but its a very easy slide back into bad practices. Lets remember what happened to the Gardai when they took a Roma child into care based on neighbours concerns. Hung out too dry by their superiors and the state.
have your say