Contact information
- telephone
- 01 662 4070
- fax
- 01 611 4650
- address
- 2 Holles Street
Dublin
- 2 Holles Street
Support and resources for people who have experienced sexual abuse and/or sexual violence.
Note:One in Four's content is accessible to all versions of every browser. However, this browser may not support basic Web standards, preventing the display of our site's design details. We support the mission of the Web Standards Project in the campaign encouraging users to upgrade their browsers.
PRESS RELEASE
ONE IN FOUR RESPONDS TO THE ROSCOMMON INCEST CASE
SEXUAL ABUSE BY WOMEN IS NOT UNCOMMON
One in Four today responded to the conviction and sentencing of a mother for sexually abusing her son. This tragic case revealed years of physical, emotional and sexual abuse suffered by young children even after social workers became aware of their plight. It also highlighted the fact that women too can abuse sexually.
Executive Director Maeve Lewis said "Many people do not believe that women are capable of sexual abuse, challenging as it does our beliefs about the nurturing role of women, motherhood and female sexuality. However, each year between three and five per cent of our clients disclose sexual abuse by a female, usually somebody close to them. We have also provided treatment for a woman on our sexual offender treatment programme".
Both boys and girls are abused by women. While less common than sexual abuse by men, it is not a rare occurrence. The lack of public awareness increases the difficulties for people trying to disclose abuse by a woman, with many fearing that they will not be believed, or assuming that they are the only one to whom this has happened. Maeve Lewis continues "It is likely that sexual abuse by women occurs even more frequently than the statistics show. The courage of the young boy at the heart of this case in telling his painful story may help other people to come forward."
The Roscommon case also highlights the impotence of the State to protect children from abusive parents. The mother in this case was able to get a High Court order to prevent her children being put in the care of relatives, resulting in years of additional suffering. The rights of the family superseded the wellbeing of the children. We need to urgently introduce a constitutional referendum on the rights of children which will ensure that children at risk can be protected. We call on the Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Constitutional Amendment on Children to consider the implications of this and other tragic cases when making their recommendations on enshrining children's rights in the Constitution.
One in Four is a national charity which supports men and women who have experienced sexual violence either as children or as adults.
