BishopAccountability.org
	16pc Surge in Calls to Rape Crisis Helpline By Fiona Dillon Herald October 25, 2009 http://www.herald.ie/national-news/16pc-surge-in-calls-to-rape-crisis-helpline-1923789.html THE Dublin Rape Crisis Centre (DRCC) has experienced a 16pc surge in calls to its 24-hour helpline in the first six months of this year. New statistics show that the centre received 7,560 calls to the helpline for victims of rape and sexual abuse over that period, compared to 6,522 calls in the same period in 2008. It said that the increase was due mainly to the huge surge in calls to the helpline following the Ryan report. The figures showed a 300pc increase in the number of first-time callers disclosing past childhood sexual abuse in May this year, from the same period last year. Meanwhile, chief executive Ellen O'Malley-Dunlop said that the DRCC was disappointed and angry at the further delay in the publication of the report of the Commission of Investigation into sexual abuse in the Archdiocese of Dublin. "While the centre asked for some space between the publication of the Ryan report and the Dublin Archdiocese report, in order to be properly prepared for the avalanche of calls we anticipated, we never envisaged the further delay that is now happening," she said. She said that her organisation had been preparing for months for the publication of the commission's report and had seen it as the "end in sight" for the survivors of abuse who, she said, had campaigned with courage and tenacity. She added that other survivors, who had chosen for their own understandable reasons not to speak out, also needed this report to be in the public domain. She said that "alas, all have now to call on their over-stretched patience and inner resources as they are forced to wait once again". It had been widely anticipated that the report would be published this week. Following the publication of the Ryan report in May, thousands of people contacted counselling and advocacy services for help. Many people were telling their stories for the very first time, and had never even spoken to family members or friends. Contact: fdillon@herald.ie
Any original material on these pages is copyright © BishopAccountability.org 2004. Reproduce freely with attribution.