Sexual abuse support service says it has been 'inundated with calls' from men

The annual report for One in Four, which helps adult survivors of sexual abuse, has shown that its services have been 'inundated with calls' from men.

The news follows the recent revelations about alleged sexual abuse in educational institutions such as Blackrock College.

According to its latest report, One In Four said that it supported 673 men and women last year who experienced sexual abuse in childhood, and 65 men who had caused sexual harm to children.

In 2021, it delivered 2,398 individual and group psychotherapy sessions to 125 clients and met 56 people for a first assessment meeting.

The service noted that around 43 per cent of its clients were abused in their own family, while 37 per cent of the total number of its clients were men.

One in Four's CEO Maeve Lewis said that many survivors believe they are the only person to whom this has ever happened to, and as such, 'are paralysed by a sense of personal shame.'

"Others fear they will be disbelieved," she added.

Ms Lewis said that whenever 'a major scandal' involving alleged sexual abuse comes to public attention, some survivors then find the courage to speak publicly.

Ms Lewis also acknowledged that while there has been progress made in recent years, she reiterated that Ireland is still a place where one in four children experience sexual harm.

She pointed to under-resourcing of the State’s child-protection system, which she said means Tusla cannot properly investigate every notification of alleged sexual abuse, and especially in cases where an adult reported alleged historic abuse.

Further information about One in Four can be found by clicking here.

If you have been affected by this article, you can find resources to help you by emailing Samaritans Ireland at jo@samaritans.ie or ring 116 123.

Additionally, you can visit the official website of the Rape Crisis Centre at drcc.ie.