IRELAND
Irish Examiner
By Evelyn Ring
CALLS to the Dublin Rape Crisis Centre (DRCC) increased by 75% in the wake of the Ferns Inquiry into the allegations of clerical sexual abuse was published, the centre has revealed.
During one three-hour period alone the centre received 40 new calls from people from the diocese of Ferns and other parts of the country regarding clerical sexual abuse.
DRCC chief executive Irene Bergin said the dramatic response that left their telephone counsellors “snowed under” came as no surprise - they experienced a similar surge in calls when the level of institutionalised child abuse was exposed in the mid-90s.
Ms Bergin said the centre would expect half of the callers to follow up their call with a face to face meeting with a counsellor provided by an appropriate service in their locality.
The DRCC also noted that the report had recommended that the Department of Health and Children should launch and repeat from time to time a nation-wide campaign in relation to child sexual abuse.