A helpline for victims of ritual sex abuse is to be announced by the Network of Rape Crisis Centres today. The network says ritual abuse occurs in Ireland and that some victims of such abuse have been in contact with rape crisis centres in the State.
Victims of ritual abuse abroad have also come to Ireland to escape their abusers, the network says.
The network's national co-ordinator, Ms Fiona Neary, says she has worked with one survivor of ritual abuse which occurred in Ireland in recent decades.
Galway Rape Crisis Centre has worked with up to five victims of ritual abuse which occurred here and abroad, she says.
Staff at the centre have had training from counsellors who have worked with ritual abuse victims in England, she says.
"Rape crisis centres are hearing about it," she says.
The helpline to be announced today will go into operation in October or November after staff have received further training.
Some ritual abuse is connected with satanic ceremonies, she says. In other instances the rituals are used for the purpose of terrifying the children being abused "and to indicate to the child that they have enormous power".
Some ritual abusers use sensory deprivation techniques to further terrify their child victims, she says. Ritual abuse is highly organised, she says. "Children in their control can be trafficked around Europe and in and out of different groups of abusers."
The helpline project will be announced at this morning's annual general meeting in Dublin of the Network of Rape Crisis Centres. Among those at the meeting will be Ms Sophia McColgan, whose father is serving a prison sentence for prolonged abuse of her and her siblings, and the Minister of State for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, Ms Mary Wallace.