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	One in Four Welcome the Commencement of the Commission of Investigation into Clerical Sexual Abuse in the Dublin Arch Diocese One in Four [Ireland] May 24, 2006 http://oneinfour.org/press/advert/ One in Four, the national charity which supports women and men who have experienced sexual violence today welcomed the launch an advertising campaign by the Commission of Investigation into Clerical Sexual abuse in the Dublin Arch Diocese calling upon people with evidence relevant to its work to come forward. This campaign marks the commencement of the investigation which was first promised by Government in October 2002 following the broadcast of the RTE Primetime documentary Cardinal Secrets. The commission will examine the handling of complaints of child sexual abuse perpetrated by Catholic priests from or attached to the Archdiocese of Dublin. One in Four first called for this investigation in 2002 and has been involved in ongoing consultation and discussions with the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform over the past four years in that regard. Our Advocacy Service continues to support a large number of women and men who have crucial evidence relevant to the work of the Commission. Today, Deirdre Fitzpatrick, Advocacy Co-ordinator at One in Four, encouraged those who have experienced sexual abuse perpetrated by priests in or attached to the Dublin Archdiocese to come forward. "We believe that this investigation is essential if we are to understand and learn from the mistakes and failures of the past in ways which will allow us to respond to those affected and ensure that such abuse is prevented in the future", said Fitzpatrick. "One in Four has and will continue to support and assist those who wish to take part in this investigation and we wish to encourage anyone with information relevant to the process to come forward. For those requiring information and support in relation the Commissions work, we would like to offer our support and assistance." "One in Four played a key role in the Ferns Inquiry, supporting many of those who gave evidence to that investigation. The organisation is determined to work to ensure that every possible support is available to those affected by clerical sexual abuse perpetrated by Priests of the Archdiocese of Dublin. We look forward to lending our expertise and experience in this area to this vital process". In seeking this inquiry One in Four has been determined to ensure that any investigation should focus on the responses of both Church and State agencies to complaints, allegations or suspicions of clerical child sexual abuse. This inquiry has not been established to determine whether such abuse was perpetrated, that is now beyond question, but rather to establish how it was dealt with and responded to. This work is essential if we are to address the shortcomings in both legislation and policy that allowed such abuse to happen in the first instance.
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