The release last year of the Ferns report into sexual abuse of children by some clergy in that diocese triggered a massive increase in calls to one of the State's busiest rape crisis helplines, it has been revealed.
In its annual report for 2005, the Dublin Rape Crisis Centre (DRCC) noted a 9 per cent increase in the number of calls relating to childhood sexual abuse last year, a figure it linked to a spike in calls in October and November, after the publication of the Ferns report.
Ellen O'Malley-Dunlop
The centre received over 16,000 calls to its helpline last year, the highest ever in its 25-year history.
The DRCC said 12,244 of the calls received were "genuine counselling calls", an increase of 11 per cent on the previous year.
Some 54 per cent of the calls received related to adult rape and sexual assault, while 46 per cent related to childhood sexual abuse - an increase of 9 per cent on 2004.
A total of 76 per cent of callers were from the Dublin area and 24 per cent were from outside Dublin, also a substantial increase on the 10 per cent of calls from outside the area in the previous year.
A total of 3,849 calls out of the 16,331 last year were from first-time callers to the helpline.
DRCC chief executive Ellen O'Malley-Dunlop said the 9 per cent increase in calls relating to childhood sexual abuse is "highly significant".
"In October and November 2005, following the release of the Ferns Report, we experienced a dramatic increase in calls to our helpline.
"These calls came not only from the Dublin area but from all over the country. It was a time of great sadness for all our callers, as media coverage of the report triggered old memories.
"Our staff and volunteers were deeply touched by the callers, many of whom were elderly, who availed of the 24-hour crisis helpline for support at that time."
Trained DRCC volunteers accompanied some 263 victims to the Sexual Assault Treatment Unit at Dublin's Rotunda hospital, an increase of 58 on 2004.
DRCC said just 28 per cent of all cases of rape, sexual assault or childhood sexual abuse it dealt with were reported to the Garda.
In 65 per cent of the rape cases, the assailant was known to the victim. And in nearly 97 per cent of cases of childhood sexual abuse, the perpetrator was a relative or other known person
Ms O'Malley-Dunlop said it was far more difficult for victims to report rape or sexual assault where the assailant was a family member or a known person.
"The shame and the confusion that prevails often prevents the victim coming forward to seek justice. According to our 2005 statistics, clients were five times more likely to report rape or sexual assault if the assailant was a stranger rather than a person known to them."